JP2010032681A - Camera system, camera and illuminating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera system which performs normal light emission so that an image imaged in accordance with the illumination state of a subject in the normal light emission meets appropriate exposure. <P>SOLUTION: The camera system includes an illuminating device 20 that can be attached and detached to/from a camera, and the camera 10 that informs the illuminating device of a light quantity in normal light emission by a light emission part calculated based on the light quantity of reflected light from a subject in preliminary light emission by the light emission part. The illuminating device is equipped with a light emission control part 210 causing the light emission part 201 to perform the normal light emission based on the light quantity in the normal light emission of which the illuminating device is informed from the camera. The illuminating device and the camera include one of a photometry part 202 detecting the light quantity of the reflected light from the subject in the normal light emission by the light emission part, a storage part 204 storing a reference light quantity determined based on appropriate exposure to a reference subject having predetermined reflectance, and a light control part performing light control operation to stop the normal light emission even in the middle of the normal light emission based on the light quantity in the normal light emission when the light quantity detected by the photometry part attains the reference light quantity stored in the storage part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera system, a camera, and an illumination device that perform preliminary light emission and main light emission for illuminating a subject.

Conventionally, preliminary light emission is performed by an illuminating device at the time of photographing a subject, the main light emission amount is calculated according to the amount of reflected light from the subject at the time of the preliminary light emission, and the main light emission is performed by the lighting device with the calculated main light emission amount. A camera is known (see Patent Document 1). In this camera, since the main light emission amount is calculated after confirming the reflectance of the subject by performing preliminary light emission before the main light emission, the illumination device emits light so that the subject is in an appropriate illumination state during the main light emission. be able to.
JP 2004-69995 A

  By the way, when the light from the illumination device of another camera overlaps during preliminary light emission, the reflected light from the subject includes the reflected light of the light emitted from the illumination device of the other camera. Light increases. In the above-described camera, since the main light emission amount is calculated based on the preliminary light emission amount and the amount of reflected light from the subject, the calculated main light emission amount is less than an appropriate value, and the captured image is underexposed. There is a case.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a camera system, a camera, and an illumination device that perform main light emission so that an image captured according to the illumination state of a subject at the time of main light emission satisfies an appropriate exposure amount.

  The present invention solves the above problems by the following means. In addition, in order to make an understanding easy, it attaches | subjects and demonstrates the code | symbol corresponding to embodiment of this invention, but this invention is not limited to this.

  The camera system according to the present invention includes an illumination device (20) that includes a light emitting unit (201) that performs preliminary light emission and main light emission, and that can be attached to and detached from the camera (10), and reflected light from a subject during preliminary light emission of the light emitting unit. A camera system (1) including a camera (10) for notifying the installed lighting device (20) of the main light emission amount of the light emitting unit calculated based on the light amount of the lighting device, A light emission control unit (210) that causes the light emitting unit to perform main light emission based on the main light emission amount notified from the camera is provided, and the lighting device and the camera are each separated from the subject during the main light emission by the light emitting unit. A photometric unit (202) for detecting the amount of reflected light of the light, a storage unit (204) for storing a reference light amount determined based on an appropriate exposure amount for a reference subject having a predetermined reflectance, and the photometric unit When the detected light amount reaches the reference light amount stored in the storage unit, a dimming control unit that performs a dimming operation to stop the main light emission even during the main light emission based on the main light emission amount (210) and any one of (210).

  The camera (11) of the present invention is a camera (11) to which a lighting device (21) including a light emitting unit that performs preliminary light emission and main light emission is mounted, and a subject at the time of the preliminary light emission of the lighting device. A light emission amount calculation unit (117) that calculates a main light emission amount based on the amount of reflected light from the light source, a light emission amount notification unit (115) that notifies the illumination device of the main light emission amount, and the book by the light emission unit A photometric unit (116) for detecting the amount of reflected light from the subject at the time of light emission, and a storage unit (120) for storing a reference amount of light determined based on an appropriate exposure amount for a reference subject having a predetermined reflectance. When the light amount detected by the photometry unit reaches the reference light amount stored in the storage unit, the light emission unit stops the main light emission even during the main light emission based on the main light emission amount. Light operation Characterized in that it comprises a dimming control unit (110) to perform.

  Further, the camera (12) of the present invention calculates the main light emission amount of the light emitting unit based on the light emitting unit (121) that performs preliminary light emission and main light emission, and the amount of reflected light from the subject during the preliminary light emission. A light emission control unit (110) that causes the light emitting unit to perform main light emission based on the main light emission amount, and a photometry unit (116) that detects the amount of reflected light from the subject during the main light emission by the light emitting unit. A storage unit (120) that stores a reference light amount determined based on an appropriate exposure amount for a reference subject having a predetermined reflectance, and the reference in which the light amount detected by the photometry unit is stored in the storage unit A dimming control unit (110) that performs a dimming operation to stop the main light emission even during the main light emission based on the main light emission amount when the light amount is reached is provided.

  In addition, the illumination device (20) of the present invention is detachable from the camera (10), and notification of the main light emission amount calculated by the camera based on the preliminary light emission and the amount of reflected light from the subject during the preliminary light emission. Is a lighting device including a light emitting unit (201) that performs main light emission by receiving light from the camera, and causes the light emitting unit to perform main light emission based on the main light emission amount notified from the camera. ), A photometric unit (202) for detecting the amount of reflected light from the subject during main light emission by the light emitting unit, and a reference light amount determined based on an appropriate exposure amount for a reference subject having a predetermined reflectance When the amount of light detected by the storage unit (204) and the light metering unit reaches the reference light amount stored in the storage unit, the main light is emitted even during the main light emission based on the main light emission amount. Characterized in that it comprises a dimming control unit for performing a dimming operation allowed to stop light (210).

  According to the present invention, the amount of reflected light from the subject at the time of main light emission is detected, and the main light emission is stopped when the detected light amount reaches a reference light amount capable of acquiring an image with an appropriate exposure amount. Can be dimmed. Therefore, even if the metering result at the time of preliminary light emission is inappropriate for the subject, and thus an inappropriate main light emission amount is calculated, the captured image is prevented from being underexposed or overexposed. can do.

  Hereinafter, a camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera system according to the first embodiment. The camera system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a camera 10 and a lighting device 20 that can be attached to and detached from the camera 10. The camera 10 includes a control unit 110. The control unit 110 includes an image sensor 111, an image data storage unit 112, an image processing unit 113, an operation unit 114, a communication unit 115, a photometry unit 116, a main light emission amount calculation unit 117, A memory card 118 and a display unit 119 are connected.

  The control unit 110 includes a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, and a CPU, and controls each unit constituting the camera 10 by executing each processing program stored in the ROM. The image sensor 111 is configured by a CCD, a CMOS, or the like, and captures subject light via a photographing lens (not shown) and outputs an analog image signal. The image data storage unit 112 temporarily stores image data generated by A / D converting an image signal output from the image sensor 111 in an A / D conversion unit (not shown). The image processing unit 113 performs image processing such as white balance adjustment, contour enhancement, and gamma correction on the image data stored in the image data storage unit 112.

  The operation unit 114 includes a power switch, a release button, and the like, and sends a signal based on a button operation by the user to the control unit 110. The communication unit 115 transmits the preliminary light emission and main light emission instructions and the main light emission amount to the illumination device 20, and receives device information including the preliminary light emission amount at the time of preliminary light emission from the illumination device 20.

  The photometry unit 116 receives the subject light when the illumination device 10 performs preliminary light emission, performs light amount integration, and detects the light amount of the subject light at the time of preliminary light emission. Based on the amount of subject light during preliminary light emission detected by the photometry unit 116 and the preliminary light emission amount acquired from the illumination device 20, the main light emission amount calculation unit 117 is configured so that the captured image satisfies the appropriate exposure amount. The amount of luminescence is calculated. The memory card 118 is composed of an SD card, and stores image data such as RAW data and JPEG. The display unit 119 is configured with a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays an image processed by the image processing unit 113, a menu image, and the like.

  The illuminating device 20 includes a control unit 210, and a light emitting unit 201, a photometric unit 202, a communication unit 203, and a reference light amount storage unit 204 are connected to the control unit 210. The control unit 210 includes a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, and a CPU, and controls each unit by executing a program stored in the ROM. The light emitting unit 201 performs preliminary light emission with a predetermined light emission amount, and performs main light emission with a light emission amount corresponding to the main light emission amount notified from the camera 10. The photometry unit 202 detects reflected light from the subject during the main light emission. The communication unit 203 transmits device information including the preliminary light emission amount to the camera 10, and receives the preliminary light emission and main light emission instructions and the main light emission amount from the camera 10. The reference light emission amount storage unit 204 stores a reference light amount determined based on an appropriate exposure amount for a reference subject having a predetermined reflectance.

  Next, operations of the camera 10 and the illumination device 20 configuring the camera system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera system 1 according to the present embodiment. When the power switch is set to ON by the user (step S11), the control unit 110 of the camera 10 transmits device information including identification information of the camera 10 to the lighting device 20 via the communication unit 115 (step S12). ). When the control unit 210 of the illumination device 20 receives the device information of the camera 10 via the communication unit 203 (step S21), the control unit 210 transmits to the camera 10 device information including the amount of preliminary light emission and the identification information of the device itself. (Step S22). The control unit 110 of the camera 10 receives the device information of the lighting device 20 via the communication unit 115 (step S13).

  When the release button is fully pressed (step S14: Y), the control unit 110 of the camera 10 transmits a preliminary light emission instruction to the illumination device 20 via the communication unit 115 (step S15). When the controller 210 of the illumination device 20 receives the preliminary light emission instruction transmitted from the camera 10 via the communication unit 203 (step S23), the light emission unit 201 performs preliminary light emission with a predetermined preliminary light emission amount (step S24). ).

  The control unit 110 of the camera 10 detects the amount of light by measuring the reflected light from the subject when preliminarily emitted by the illumination device 20 by the photometry unit 116 (step S16), and detects the amount of light by the main light emission amount calculation unit 117. The main light emission amount is calculated based on the light amount detected by the above and the preliminary light emission amount included in the device information received from the illumination device 20 in step S13 (step S17). The control unit 110 transmits the main light emission amount calculated in step S17 and an instruction to perform the main light emission to the illumination device 20 via the communication unit 115 (step S18).

  The control unit 210 of the illumination device 20 receives the main light emission amount and the main light emission instruction transmitted from the camera 10 via the communication unit 203 (step S25), and the main light emission unit 201 performs the main light emission based on the received main light emission amount. Light emission is started (step S26).

  FIG. 3 shows the timing (T) and light quantity of preliminary light emission and main light emission by the illumination device 20 of the camera system 1 according to the embodiment. The lighting device 20 performs preliminary light emission A with a predetermined preliminary light emission amount when instructed to perform preliminary light emission from the camera 10 (timing T1), and calculates when main light emission is instructed from the camera 10 (timing T2). The main light emission B1 is started according to the main light emission amount. The control unit 210 of the illumination device 20 starts the main light emission by the light emitting unit 201 and simultaneously measures the subject light by the photometric unit 202 to detect the light amount (step S27). The control unit 210 determines whether or not the light amount detected by the photometry unit 202 has reached the reference light amount stored in advance in the reference light amount storage unit 204 (step S28), and the detected light amount reaches the reference light amount. If it is determined that the detected light amount has not reached the reference light amount (step S28: N), the main light emission is stopped (step S29). The main light emission by the light emitting unit 201 is continued until the light amount reaches the reference light amount.

  For example, when the subject's strobe light is irradiated on the subject at the time of preliminary light emission, the value of the main light emission amount is calculated to be small. Therefore, the book indicated by the solid line B1 in FIG. 2 based on the calculated main light emission amount. If it emits light, it will be underexposed. Accordingly, the main light emission is extended until the light amount measured during the main light emission reaches the reference light amount as indicated by a broken line B2. On the other hand, for example, when performing bounce illumination, the reflected light from the subject at the time of preliminary light emission is smaller than the original reflected light, so the value of the main light emission amount is calculated to be large, and the calculated main light emission amount If the main light emission indicated by the solid line B1 is performed based on the above, overexposure will occur. Therefore, when the light quantity measured as indicated by the broken line B3 reaches the reference light quantity, the main light emission is stopped even during the main light emission based on the calculated main light emission quantity.

  According to the camera system of the present embodiment, when the amount of reflected light from the subject at the time of main light emission is detected, and the detected amount of light reaches a reference light amount that can acquire an image with an appropriate exposure amount, Since the light is adjusted so as to stop the main light emission, it is possible to prevent the captured image from being underexposed or overexposed even when the illumination state of the subject is changed between the preliminary light emission and the main light emission. .

  In the camera system according to the above-described embodiment, the illumination device 20 includes the photometry unit 202 that detects the amount of reflected light from the subject at the time of main light emission, and the storage unit 204 that stores the reference light amount. When the amount of light detected by the control unit 210 reaches the reference amount of light, the control unit 210 performs a dimming operation to stop the main light emission even during the main light emission based on the main light emission amount. A photometric unit that detects the amount of reflected light from the subject at the time of light emission and a storage unit that stores the reference light amount. When the light amount detected by the photometric unit reaches the reference light amount, the controller 110 of the camera 10 causes the illumination device to The dimming operation may be performed so as to stop the main light emission performed at 20.

  In the above-described embodiment, the illumination device 20 includes an angle detection unit that detects the angle of the light emitting unit 201 with respect to the camera 10, and when the angle detected by the angle detection unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the photometry unit 202 You may make it perform the detection operation of the light quantity of the reflected light from the to-be-photographed object, and the above-mentioned light control operation by the control part 210. FIG.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, when receiving a command indicating the start of a photometric operation such as half-pressing the release button from the camera 10, the photometric unit 202 performs photometry of the object field, and a predetermined light amount change is performed by this photometry. , The photometric unit 202 may perform the operation of detecting the amount of reflected light from the subject that is currently emitting light, and the control unit 210 may perform the above-described light control operation.

  Next, a camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a camera according to the second embodiment. The camera according to the second embodiment is a camera 11 to which a lighting device 21 including a light emitting unit that performs preliminary light emission and main light emission is mounted.

  The illuminating device 21 is provided with only the light emitting unit 201 and the communication unit 203 by removing the photometric unit 202 and the reference light amount storage unit 204 from the illuminating device 20 according to the first embodiment. Further, the camera 11 includes the reference light amount storage unit 120 in which the reference light amount determined based on the appropriate exposure amount for the reference subject having a predetermined reflectance is stored in the camera 10 according to the first embodiment. It is. In the description of the second embodiment, the description of the same configuration as that of the camera system according to the first embodiment is omitted. In the description of the camera according to the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment. .

  In the camera 11 according to this embodiment, when the power switch is set to ON by the user, the amount of preliminary light emission is received from the lighting device 21. The control unit 110 of the camera 11 transmits a preliminary light emission instruction to the illumination device 21 when the release button is fully pressed. When receiving the preliminary light emission instruction from the camera 11, the control unit 210 of the illumination device 21 performs preliminary light emission with a predetermined preliminary light emission amount using the light emitting unit 201.

  The control unit 110 of the camera 11 measures the reflected light from the subject when preliminarily emitted by the illuminating device 21 by the photometric unit 116 to detect the amount of light, and detects the amount of light detected by the photometric unit 116 by the main light emission amount calculating unit 117. Then, the main light emission amount is calculated based on the preliminary light emission amount received from the lighting device 21. The control unit 110 transmits the calculated main light emission amount and an instruction to perform the main light emission to the lighting device 21. The control unit 210 of the illumination device 21 receives the main light emission amount and the main light emission instruction transmitted from the camera 11, and starts the main light emission by the light emitting unit 201 based on the received main light emission amount.

  When the main light emission is started by the light emitting unit 201, the control unit 110 of the camera 11 measures the subject light by the photometric unit 116 and detects the amount of light. When the control unit 110 determines whether or not the light amount detected by the photometry unit 116 has reached the reference light amount stored in the reference light amount storage unit 120, and determines that the detected light amount has reached the reference light amount, The lighting device 21 is notified of the stop of the main light emission. The illumination device 21 stops the main light emission when receiving a notice of the main light emission stop from the camera 11 via the communication unit 203.

  According to the camera of the present embodiment, the amount of reflected light from the subject at the time of main light emission is detected, and when the detected light amount reaches a reference light amount that can acquire an image with an appropriate exposure amount, Since dimming is performed so as to stop the light emission, it is possible to prevent the captured image from being underexposed or overexposed even when the illumination state of the subject changes during preliminary light emission and main light emission.

  In this embodiment, an angle detection unit that detects the angle of the light emitting unit 201 with respect to the camera 11 is provided, and when the angle detected by the angle detection unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the subject that is actually emitting light by the photometry unit 116 The operation of detecting the amount of reflected light from the light source and the above-described light control operation by the control unit 110 may be performed.

  Next, a camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a camera according to the third embodiment. The camera 12 according to the third embodiment includes the camera illumination device 21 according to the second embodiment built in the camera 12, and each part constituting the camera 12 is the same as that of the second embodiment. It has the same function as each part which comprises the camera 11 which concerns. In the camera 12 according to the third embodiment, a light control operation similar to that of the camera according to the second embodiment is performed in the control unit 110.

  In the second and third embodiments described above, when the camera 11 or 12 receives a command indicating the start of a photometric operation such as half-pressing the release button, the photometric unit 116 performs photometry of the object field. When a predetermined light amount change is detected by this photometry, the photometric unit 116 may perform the operation of detecting the amount of reflected light from the subject that is emitting light and the control unit 110 may perform the above-described dimming operation. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the subject light is detected by the photometry unit, but may be detected by the image sensor.

1 is a block diagram of a camera system according to a first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining preliminary light emission and main light emission of the camera system according to the first embodiment. It is a block diagram of the camera concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram of the camera concerning a 3rd embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera system, 10 ... Camera, 20 ... Illuminating device, 110, 210 ... Control part, 111 ... Image sensor, 112 ... Image data storage part, 113 ... Image processing part, 114 ... Operation part, 115, 203 ... Communication part 116, 202 ... Metering unit, 117 ... Main light emission amount calculation unit, 118 ... Memory card, 119 ... Display unit, 201 ... Light emission unit, 204 ... Reference light amount storage unit

Claims (8)

A lighting device that includes a light emitting unit that performs preliminary light emission and main light emission, and that can be attached to and detached from the camera, and the main light emission amount of the light emitting unit that is calculated based on the amount of reflected light from the subject at the time of preliminary light emission of the light emitting unit is attached. A camera system comprising a camera for notifying the illumination device,
The lighting device includes:
A light emission control unit that causes the light emission unit to perform main light emission based on the main light emission amount notified from the camera;
The lighting device and the camera are respectively
A photometric unit that detects the amount of reflected light from the subject during main light emission by the light emitting unit;
A storage unit for storing a reference light amount determined based on an appropriate exposure amount for a reference subject having a predetermined reflectance;
When the light amount detected by the photometry unit reaches the reference light amount stored in the storage unit, a light control operation is performed to stop the main light emission even during the main light emission based on the main light emission amount. A camera system comprising: a light control unit; The illumination device includes an angle detection unit that detects an angle of the light emitting unit with respect to the camera,
When the angle detected by the angle detection unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the light metering unit detects the amount of reflected light from the subject during main light emission by the light emitting unit, and the light control unit The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the light control operation is performed. The photometry unit performs photometry of the object scene when receiving a command indicating the start of photometry operation from the camera,
When a predetermined light amount change is detected by the photometry, the light emitting unit detects the amount of light reflected from the subject during main light emission, and the light control operation is performed by the light control unit. The camera system according to claim 1. A camera equipped with a lighting device including a light emitting unit that performs preliminary light emission and main light emission,
A light emission amount calculation unit that calculates the main light emission amount based on the amount of reflected light from the subject during the preliminary light emission of the illumination device;
A light emission amount notification unit for notifying the illumination device of the main light emission amount;
A photometric unit that detects the amount of reflected light from the subject during the main light emission by the light emitting unit;
A storage unit for storing a reference light amount determined based on an appropriate exposure amount for a reference subject having a predetermined reflectance;
Dimming that stops the main light emission even when the light emission unit is in the middle of the main light emission based on the main light emission amount when the light amount detected by the photometry unit reaches the reference light amount stored in the storage unit A camera comprising: a dimming control unit that performs the operation. A light emitting unit for performing preliminary light emission and main light emission;
A light emission control unit that calculates the main light emission amount of the light emitting unit based on the amount of reflected light from the subject at the time of the preliminary light emission, and causes the light emitting unit to perform main light emission based on the main light emission amount;
A photometric unit that detects the amount of reflected light from the subject during the main light emission by the light emitting unit;
A storage unit for storing a reference light amount determined based on an appropriate exposure amount for a reference subject having a predetermined reflectance;
When the light amount detected by the photometry unit reaches the reference light amount stored in the storage unit, a light control operation is performed to stop the main light emission even during the main light emission based on the main light emission amount. A camera comprising: a light control unit. An angle detection unit that detects an angle of the light emitting unit with respect to the camera;
When the angle detected by the angle detection unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the light metering unit detects the amount of reflected light from the subject during main light emission by the light emitting unit, and the light control unit The camera according to claim 4, wherein the light control operation is performed. An operation unit that receives a predetermined operation from the user is provided.
The photometry unit performs photometry of the object scene when the predetermined operation is received by the operation unit, and when a predetermined light amount change is detected based on the photometry result, the light emission unit during the main light emission is detected. 6. The camera according to claim 4, wherein an operation for detecting the amount of reflected light from a subject and the light control operation by the light control unit are performed. Illumination provided with a light-emitting unit that is detachable from the camera and that receives a notification of the main light emission amount calculated by the camera based on the preliminary light emission and the amount of reflected light from the subject during the preliminary light emission from the camera. A device,
A light emission control unit that causes the light emitting unit to perform main light emission based on the main light emission amount notified from the camera;
A photometric unit that detects the amount of reflected light from the subject during main light emission by the light emitting unit;
A storage unit for storing a reference light amount determined based on an appropriate exposure amount for a reference subject having a predetermined reflectance;
When the light amount detected by the photometry unit reaches the reference light amount stored in the storage unit, a light control operation is performed to stop the main light emission even during the main light emission based on the main light emission amount. An illumination device comprising: a light control unit.

Images