JP2010101931A - Digital camera and method of controlling the digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera configured such that a shutter curtain is not damaged easily even when an interchangeable lens is detached, and to provide a method of controlling the digital camera. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera to which the interchangeable lens 100 is detachably attached includes: an imaging device 221 capturing subject luminous flux made incident through the interchangeable lens 100; and an openable/closable shutter 213 arranged between the interchangeable lens 100 and the imaging device 221. In response to operation of a power switch 284 (#25), the digital camera is shifted to a low power consumption state from an operation state (#29), and also the shutter 213 is set to a closed state (#27). When detaching operation of the interchangeable lens 100 is performed in the low power consumption state, the digital camera is shifted to the operation state (#31), and the shutter 213 is set to an opened state (#33). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a method for controlling the imaging apparatus, and more particularly, to a digital camera and a digital camera control method in which a photographing optical system can be removed for replacement.

In recent years, digital cameras that include an image sensor and have a live view display function for displaying image data from the image sensor for observation of a subject image have become widespread. For example, in Patent Document 1, in a digital interchangeable lens single-lens reflex camera, when the live view display mode is selected, the movable mirror is raised, the focal plane shutter is opened, and is formed on the image sensor. It is disclosed that a subject image is converted into image data, and the subject image is displayed on a liquid crystal monitor disposed on the back of the camera body based on the image data.
JP 2007-194769 A

  In the digital camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the interchangeable lens is removed during live view display, the image sensor is directly exposed to the outside world, and a shutter is used to prevent dust from adhering to the image sensor. It is closed and the movable mirror is restored.

  In an interchangeable lens digital camera, when the interchangeable lens is removed, there is a possibility that a finger touches the shutter to cause damage. In particular, in the case of a digital camera that does not have a movable mirror and has a shorter flange back than a single-lens reflex camera, when a finger or the like enters from the camera mount, a shutter is placed near the opening. There is a risk of damage.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a digital camera and a control method for the digital camera in which the shutter curtain is not easily damaged even when the interchangeable lens is removed. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, a digital camera according to a first aspect of the present invention is a digital camera in which a photographic lens is detachable, an imaging unit that images a subject light beam incident through the photographic lens, the photographic lens, and the imaging unit. And an openable / closable shutter mechanism, and a controller that keeps the shutter mechanism open when the photographic lens is removed.

The digital camera according to a second invention is the digital camera according to the first invention, wherein, when the shutter mechanism is in a closed state, the control unit opens the shutter mechanism in conjunction with an operation for removing the photographing lens. Set to.
In the digital camera according to a third aspect, in the second aspect, the control unit sets the shutter mechanism to a closed state when the digital camera shifts to a low power consumption state.
In a digital camera according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, when the digital camera is in a low power consumption state, the control unit detects that the photographing lens has been removed by interrupt processing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the digital camera according to the first aspect further includes a display unit that displays a subject image in a live view based on image data output from the imaging unit. When the taking lens is removed during the live view display, the live view display is stopped and the shutter mechanism is kept open.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the fifth aspect, when the digital camera shifts to a low power consumption state, the control unit shifts while keeping the shutter mechanism open. .
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the fifth aspect, the control unit closes the shutter mechanism when the control unit is mounted after the photographing lens is removed and the power is shifted to a low power consumption state. Set to state.

  A digital camera according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is a digital camera in which a photographic lens is detachable, and is disposed between an imaging unit that images a subject light beam incident through the photographic lens, and the photographic lens and the imaging element. A shutter mechanism that can be opened and closed, and a control unit that shifts the digital camera from an operating state to a low power consumption state in accordance with an operation of a power switch, and closes the shutter mechanism. When the photographing lens is removed in the low power consumption state, the unit shifts the digital camera to the operation state and opens the shutter mechanism.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera control method comprising: a detachable photographic lens; and a digital camera control method having an openable / closable shutter mechanism disposed between the photographic lens and the image sensor. It is detected whether or not the lens has been removed. If it is detected as a result of the detection that the photographing lens has been removed, the shutter mechanism is kept open.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera control method according to the ninth aspect, wherein when the shutter mechanism is in a closed state when it is detected that the photographing lens has been removed, the shutter mechanism Set to open.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera control method according to the tenth aspect, wherein live view display is performed based on image data output from the image sensor when it is detected that the photographing lens has been removed. While stopping, the open state of the shutter mechanism is maintained.

  According to the present invention, the shutter mechanism is kept open when the photographing lens is removed, so that the shutter curtain is not easily damaged even when the interchangeable lens is removed. And a control method for the digital camera can be provided.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment using a digital camera system to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. An image sensor is disposed in the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, and image data from the image sensor is recorded on a recording medium in response to a full press operation of the release button. Further, this digital camera does not have an optical single-lens reflex finder, and performs live view display based on image data, and the photographer determines the composition by looking at the live view display. When the lens removal operation is performed, the shutter is opened. This prevents the shutter from being inadvertently touched and damaged.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration mainly including an electric system of a digital camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera system according to the present embodiment includes an interchangeable lens 100 and a camera body 200 and is electrically connected through a communication contact 291.

  Inside the interchangeable lens 100, a photographing optical system 101 for focus adjustment and focal length adjustment, and a diaphragm 103 for adjusting the aperture amount are arranged. The photographing optical system 101 is driven by an optical system driving mechanism 107, and the diaphragm 103 is driven by an aperture driving mechanism 109. The storage detection switch 105 is a switch that detects the storage when a part or all of the imaging optical system 101 in the interchangeable lens 100 is stored. That is, the interchangeable lens 100 according to the present embodiment is provided with a rotation operation member 121 on the outer periphery of the interchangeable lens 100 as shown in FIG.

  By rotating the rotation operation member 121 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2D, a part or all of the photographing optical system 101 is retracted, and the total length of the lens barrel is shortened. Become. Further, by rotating the rotation operation member 121 in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2D, the photographing optical system 101 is extended to enter the photographing state. The storage detection switch 105 is turned on when the storage state is set, and is turned off when the shooting state is set.

  The storage detection switch 105, the optical system driving mechanism 107, and the aperture driving mechanism 109 are each connected to a lens CPU 111, and the lens CPU 111 is connected to the camera body 200 via a communication contact 291. The lens CPU 111 controls the inside of the interchangeable lens 100. The lens CPU 111 controls the optical system driving mechanism 107 to perform focusing, zoom driving, and lens storage driving, and also controls the aperture driving mechanism 109 to control the aperture value. I do. Further, based on the state of the storage detection switch 105, it is detected whether or not the interchangeable lens 100 is in the storage state, and this detection result is transmitted to the camera body 200.

A focal plane type shutter 213 for controlling the exposure time is disposed in the camera body 200 and behind the photographing optical system 101. The shutter 213 is driven and controlled by a shutter drive mechanism 237. The shutter 213 is a so-called normally open type shutter, and is open in a charged state and closed in a non-charged state. An imaging element 221 is disposed behind the shutter 213 and photoelectrically converts a subject image formed by the photographing optical system 101 into an electrical signal. The image sensor 221 includes a CCD (Charge Coupled).
Needless to say, a two-dimensional solid-state imaging device such as a device (CMOS) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) can be used.

  The image sensor 221 is connected to the image sensor drive circuit 223, and the image sensor drive circuit 223 reads an image signal from the image sensor 221. The output of the image sensor 221 is connected to a preprocessing circuit 225, and the preprocessing circuit 225 performs preprocessing for image processing such as pixel thinning processing for live view display.

  A dustproof filter 215, a piezoelectric element 216, and an infrared cut filter / low pass filter 217 are disposed between the shutter 213 and the image sensor 221. A piezoelectric element 216 is fixed around the dust filter 215, and this piezoelectric element 216 is vibrated by ultrasonic waves by a dust filter driving circuit 235. The dust attached to the dustproof filter 215 is removed by the vibration wave generated in the piezoelectric element 216.

  The infrared cut filter / low pass filter 217 is an optical filter for removing the infrared light component and the high frequency component from the subject light flux. An image pickup unit 219 including a dustproof filter 215, a piezoelectric element 216, an infrared cut filter / low pass filter 217, and an image pickup element 221 is integrally formed in an airtight manner so that dust and the like do not enter.

The pre-processing circuit 225 is an ASIC (Application Specific
(Integrated Circuit: Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 250 is connected to the data bus 252 in the inside. The data bus 252 includes a sequence controller (hereinafter referred to as “body CPU”) 251, an image processing circuit 257, a compression / decompression circuit 259, a video signal output circuit 261, an SDRAM control circuit 265, an input / output circuit 271, and a communication circuit 273. A recording medium control circuit 275, a flash memory control circuit 279, and a switch detection circuit 283 are connected.

  The body CPU 251 connected to the data bus 252 controls the operation of this digital camera. A contrast AF circuit 253 is connected between the preprocessing circuit 225 and the body CPU 251 described above. The contrast AF circuit 253 extracts a high frequency component based on the image data output from the preprocessing circuit 225, and outputs contrast information based on the high frequency component to the body CPU 251.

  The image processing circuit 257 connected to the data bus 252 is a variety of images such as digital amplification (digital gain adjustment processing) of digital image data, color correction, gamma (γ) correction, contrast correction, and live view display image generation. Perform processing. Further, the image processing circuit 257 obtains the luminance of the subject from the image data output from the image sensor 221.

  The compression / decompression circuit 259 is a circuit for compressing the image data stored in the SDRAM 267 by a compression method such as JPEG or TIFF, and decompressing the compressed and recorded image data. Note that image compression is not limited to JPEG or TIFF, and other compression methods can be applied.

  The video signal output circuit 261 is connected to a rear liquid crystal monitor 26 and a viewfinder liquid crystal monitor (hereinafter referred to as F liquid crystal monitor) 27 via a liquid crystal monitor drive circuit 263. The rear liquid crystal monitor 26 is disposed on the rear surface of the camera body 200. However, the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 is not limited to the rear surface and may be another display device as long as it can be observed by the photographer. The rear liquid crystal monitor 26 is a display device that performs live view display, reproduces and displays a captured subject image, and displays shooting information and menus. The display surface of the intra-F liquid crystal monitor 27 can be observed through an eyepiece window (not shown) provided on the back surface of the camera body 200. On the intra-F liquid crystal monitor 27, live view display and reproduction display of captured images are displayed.

  The video signal output circuit 261 includes image data stored in the SDRAM 267 and the recording medium 277, live view image data output from the preprocessing circuit 255 and the image processing circuit 257, and various other information for camera control. Is converted into a video signal to be displayed on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 or the in-F liquid crystal monitor 27.

  The SDRAM 267 is connected to the data bus 252 via the SDRAM control circuit 265, and the SDRAM 267 temporarily stores the image data processed by the image processing circuit 257 or the image data compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 259. This is a buffer memory. The input / output circuit 271 connected to the image sensor driving circuit 223, the dust filter driving circuit 235, and the shutter driving mechanism 237 controls data input / output with each circuit such as the body CPU 251 via the data bus 252.

  A communication circuit 273 connected to the lens CPU 111 via a communication contact 291 is connected to the data bus 252 and exchanges data and communicates control commands with the body CPU 251 and the like. A recording medium control circuit 275 connected to the data bus 252 is connected to the recording medium 277 and controls recording of image data and the like on the recording medium 277 and reading of the image data and the like.

  The recording medium 277 can be loaded with any rewritable recording medium such as an xD picture card (registered trademark), a compact flash (registered trademark), an SD memory card (registered trademark), or a memory stick (registered trademark). And is detachable from the camera body 200. In addition, the hard disk may be configured to be connectable via a communication contact.

  The flash memory control circuit 279 is connected to a flash memory 281. The flash memory 281 stores a program for controlling the operation of the digital camera. The body CPU 251 stores the program in the flash memory 281. Control the digital camera according to the program. Note that the flash memory 281 is an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory.

  The various switches 285 include a 1R switch that detects the first stroke (half press) of the release button and a 2R switch that detects the second stroke (full press), and is connected to the data bus 252 via the switch detection circuit 283. ing. The various switches 285 include a menu switch linked to the menu button, a playback switch linked to the playback button, and other various switches linked to other operation members. The switch detection circuit 283 detects on / off states of the switches of the various switches 285.

  A power switch 284 is connected to the switch detection circuit 283. The power switch 284 is interlocked with the power switch, and when the power switch 284 is turned on, the camera can be set to the operating state. The switch detection circuit 283 is connected to an attachment / detachment detection switch 287. The attachment / detachment detection switch 287 is disposed near the camera mount, and is a switch for detecting whether the interchangeable lens 100 is attached to or removed from the camera body 200.

  In addition to the switch detection circuit 283, the power switch 284 and the attachment / detachment detection switch 287 are each connected to the body CPU 251 and can perform interrupt processing. That is, when the body CPU 251 is in the sleep mode and the power switch 284 is turned on or off or the attachment / detachment detection switch 287 is turned off, the body CPU 251 exits the sleep state and controls the operation of the camera body 200. Do.

  Next, an operation method of the digital camera system in one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the digital camera system according to the present embodiment. In this figure, the control unit 300 generically describes the body CPU 251 and the ASIC 250 shown in FIG. 1 and controls the camera body 200. Since other members are the same as those in FIG. 1, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 2A shows a state in which the interchangeable lens 100 is attached to the camera body 200. In the state of FIG. 2A, since the interchangeable lens 100 is in the photographing state, the storage detection switch 105 is in the off state. The attachment / detachment detection switch 287 in the camera body 200 is in an on state since the interchangeable lens 100 is attached. In the state of FIG. 2A, the power switch 284 is in an on state, and the shutter 213 is in an open state in order to perform live view display.

  When the power switch 284 is turned off from the state of FIG. 2A, the control unit 300 puts the digital camera into the sleep state (low power consumption state, second energy saving mode) as shown in FIG. 2B. At the same time, the shutter 213 is closed. When the interchangeable lens 100 is removed from the camera body 200 in the state of FIG. 2B, the attachment / detachment detection switch 287 is turned off as shown in FIG. As a result, the control unit 300 opens the shutter 213. By opening the shutter 213, there is no possibility that the shutter 213 will be damaged even if a finger or the like accidentally enters the camera mount. When the interchangeable lens 100 is attached again from the state of FIG. 2C and the state shown in FIG. 2B is reached, the attachment / detachment detection switch 287 detects this, and if the power switch 284 is off, the shutter. 213 is closed.

  In addition, when the rotation operation member 121 of the interchangeable lens 100 is rotated from the state of FIG. 2A, the storage state is obtained as shown in FIG. When the interchangeable lens 100 is in the housed state, the housed detection switch 105 is turned on and transmitted to the control unit 300 to stop the live view display on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 (low power consumption state, first energy saving mode). By stopping the live view display, it is possible to prevent wasteful power consumption. When the interchangeable lens 100 returns from the retracted state to the shooting state within a predetermined time, the live view display is resumed and the normal operation is resumed. On the other hand, when the camera does not return to the photographing state within a predetermined time, it shifts to the sleep state (low power consumption state, second energy saving mode), and further prevents power consumption.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera in one embodiment of the present invention will be described using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 shows a power-on reset operation by the body CPU 251 on the camera body 200 side. When a battery is loaded in the camera body 200, this flow starts. First, it is determined whether or not the power switch 284 of the camera body 200 is on (# 1). In this step, the state of the power switch 284 is detected and determined through the switch detection circuit 283.

  If the result of determination in step # 1 is that the power switch is off, processing proceeds to step # 29 to be described later to enter a sleep state that is a low power consumption state. On the other hand, if the result of determination is that the power switch is on, power supply from the power supply battery to each circuit and each member in the digital camera is started (# 3). Next, the shutter 213 is opened (# 5). As a result, a subject image is formed on the image sensor 221 by the photographing optical system 101. Subsequently, the operation mode and parameters are set (# 7). In this step, the shooting mode, the operation mode such as continuous shooting / single shooting, and various parameters are set.

  Once the operation mode and parameters are set, the live view operation is started (# 9). In this step, the live view starts displaying a moving image of the subject image on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 and the intra-F liquid crystal monitor 27 based on the image data acquired by the image sensor 221. The photographer can determine the composition based on the live view display.

  When the live view operation is started, lens information is read next (# 11). In this step, the lens CPU 111 changes the lens unique information such as the open aperture and focal length information of the interchangeable lens 100, the currently set focal length, the focus position information, the detection result of the storage detection switch 105, and the like. Get lens information. Subsequently, photometry and exposure amount calculation are performed (# 13). Here, the image processing circuit 257 calculates a luminance value based on the image data from the image sensor 221, and the exposure control value such as a shutter speed and an aperture value for the body CPU 251 to obtain proper exposure based on the luminance value. Ask for.

  Once the photometry and the exposure amount are calculated, it is next determined whether or not the regeneration switch is on (# 15). The playback mode is a mode in which, when the playback button is operated, the still image data recorded on the recording medium 277 is read and displayed on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 or the F liquid crystal monitor 27. If the result of determination is that the regeneration switch is on, regeneration operation is executed (# 41).

  If the result of determination in step # 15 is that the playback switch is not on, or if playback is performed in step # 41, it is determined whether or not the menu switch is on (# 17). In this step, it is determined whether the menu button is operated and the menu mode is set. If the result of determination is that the menu switch is on, a menu is displayed on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 and menu setting operation is performed (# 35). Various setting operations such as AF mode, white balance, ISO sensitivity setting, and drive mode setting can be performed by the menu setting operation.

  If the result of determination in step # 17 is that the menu switch is not on, or if the menu setting operation in step # 43 is performed, then the release button has been pressed halfway, that is, whether the 1R switch is on. Judgment is made. If the result of determination is that the 1R switch is on, a shooting operation subroutine for shooting preparation and shooting is executed (# 45).

  If the result of determination in step # 19 is that the 1R switch is not on, or if a shooting operation has been executed in step # 45, it is next determined whether or not a lens storage operation has been performed (# 21). . In this step, the state of the storage detection switch 105 is detected through the lens CPU 111.

  If the result of determination in step # 21 is that lens storage has been performed, the live view operation is stopped (# 51). When the lens storage operation is performed, the photographing optical system 101 is retracted, and only an in-focus image can be formed. Even if this subject image is displayed on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26, only the power battery is wasted. In the embodiment, the live view operation is stopped.

  When the live view operation is stopped, lens information is then read (# 53). In this step, lens information such as the state of the lens housing detection switch 105 is read. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a lens return operation has been performed (# 55). Here, based on the state of the lens storage detection switch 105 read in step # 53, it is determined whether or not the lens storage operation of the interchangeable lens 100 is canceled and the photographing optical system 105 is extended.

  If the result of determination in step # 55 is that a lens return operation has been made, processing returns to step # 7, and live view operation is resumed in step # 9. On the other hand, if the result of determination is that lens return operation has not been performed, it is next determined whether or not a predetermined time has passed (# 57). Here, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the lens storing operation was detected or the live view operation was stopped. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step # 53 to execute the above-described processing.

  If the result of determination in step # 57 is that a predetermined time has elapsed, the shutter 213 is closed (# 59) and a sleep mode in step # 29 described later is entered. That is, when it is detected in step # 21 that the lens storage operation has been performed, the live view operation is stopped, and the lens return operation is waited for a predetermined period (low power consumption state, first energy saving mode). ). During this time, if a lens return operation is performed, the live view display is resumed. On the other hand, if the lens return operation is not performed for a predetermined period, the shutter 213 is closed and the sleep mode is entered (low power consumption state, second energy saving mode). For this reason, in this embodiment, improvement in operability and efficient energy saving can be performed.

  If the result of determination in step # 21 is that lens storage operation has not been performed, it is next determined whether or not the interchangeable lens 100 has been removed (# 23). In this step, the state of the attachment / detachment detection switch 287 is detected through the switch detection circuit 283 to make a determination. If the result of this determination is that the interchangeable lens 100 has been removed, the live view operation is stopped (# 61). Since the interchangeable lens 100 is removed and no subject image is formed on the image sensor 221, the live view display is stopped.

  When the live view operation is stopped, it is next determined whether or not the interchangeable lens 100 is attached (# 63). If the result of this determination is that the interchangeable lens 100 is not attached, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after detecting the removal of the interchangeable lens 100 or stopping the live view operation. (# 67). If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step # 63 to execute the above-described processing. If the attachment of the interchangeable lens 100 is detected in step # 63 before the predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined whether or not the power switch 284 is on (# 65).

  If the result of determination in step # 65 is that the power switch 284 is on, processing returns to step # 7 and normal operation is performed. On the other hand, if the power switch 284 is off as a result of the determination, the process proceeds to step # 27, which will be described later, the shutter 213 is closed, and the sleep mode is entered (# 29).

  As a result of the determinations in steps # 63 and # 67, when a predetermined time has passed without the lens being mounted, the process proceeds to step # 29 to enter the sleep mode (low power consumption state, second energy saving mode). Thus, in the present embodiment, when the interchangeable lens 100 is removed during live view display (# 21), the lens is awaited for a predetermined time (# 63, # 67). If not, the sleep mode is entered with the interchangeable lens 100 removed. In this state, since the shutter 213 remains open for live view display (see # 5), even if the photographer or the like accidentally inserts a finger or the like from the camera mount, the shutter 213 is damaged. That is low.

  If the result of determination in step # 23 is that the interchangeable lens 100 has not been removed, it is next determined whether or not the power switch 284 is on (# 25). This determination is made by detecting the state of the power switch 284 through the switch detection circuit 283. If the result of this determination is that the power switch 284 is on, processing returns to step # 11 and normal camera operation continues.

  If the result of determination in step # 25 is that the power switch 284 is off, the shutter 213 is closed (# 27) and the sleep mode is entered (# 29). In this sleep state, interrupt processing is performed only when the power switch 284 is turned on from off or when the attachment / detachment detection switch 287 is changed from on to off, and processing for power on is performed in step # 31 and subsequent steps. Until this interrupt processing is entered, operations other than the interrupt processing are stopped to prevent the power battery from being consumed.

  When an interrupt process is entered in the sleep state, power supply is started (# 31) as in step # 3, and then the shutter 213 is opened (# 33). Once the shutter 213 has been opened, it is next determined whether or not the interchangeable lens 100 has been removed (# 35). This determination is performed by detecting the state of the attachment / detachment detection switch 287 through the switch detection circuit 283.

  If the result of determination in step # 35 is that the interchangeable lens 100 has been attached, processing proceeds to step # 7, processing proceeds to step # 7 described above, and processing such as live view display is performed. On the other hand, if the result of determination is that the interchangeable lens 100 has been removed, the routine proceeds to step # 63, where the aforementioned processing is executed.

  As described above, after entering the sleep state and shifting to the low power consumption state, the interruption process is performed due to the removal of the interchangeable lens 100, and the shutter 213 is opened when the digital camera is in an operating state ( # 33). This is to prevent the shutter 213 from being inadvertently put in the sleep state after the shutter 213 is closed in step # 27 or step # 59, and the photographer or the like accidentally inserts a finger or the like from the camera mount. It is.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the shutter mechanism is maintained in the open state when the interchangeable lens 100 is removed (interrupt processing in # 23 or # 29). In other words, when removal of the interchangeable lens 100 is detected in step # 23, the shutter 213 is open for live view display, and this open state is maintained. In step # 29, when the interrupt process is performed because the interchangeable lens 100 has been removed, in step # 33, the shutter 213 is opened and this state is maintained. Thus, since the shutter 213 is opened when the interchangeable lens 100 is removed, even if a photographer's finger or the like enters the camera mount, the shutter curtain of the shutter 213 is not easily damaged.

  In the present embodiment, the photographing lens can be switched between a first state suitable for photographing and a second state suitable for carrying. For this reason, even when the photographing lens is an interchangeable lens, it can be reduced in size when being carried. That is, it is not necessary to provide a space for retracting the camera body, and the degree of freedom in designing the camera body can be increased.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when switching to a state suitable for carrying, the power consumption state is set. For this reason, it is switched to a state suitable for carrying, and wasteful use of the power source can be prevented in a state where the subject image is not normally formed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the live view display is stopped when the image is not normally formed on the image sensor (first energy saving mode), and the operation of the entire camera is stopped when this state continues. (Second energy saving mode). Thus, since it is set as the low power consumption state of 2 steps | paragraphs, it can take an efficient energy saving mode according to a use condition. That is, immediately after the image is not normally formed on the image sensor due to the lens storage or the like, the live view display is simply stopped, and when it returns within a predetermined time, the normal shooting state can be immediately restored. On the other hand, if it is not possible to return within a predetermined time, it can be assumed that shooting has been stopped, and it takes time to return to the normal shooting state, but a lower power consumption state (sleep mode in the embodiment) is set. In this respect, the photographing lens may be a fixed type instead of an interchangeable type.

  In the present embodiment, a normally open type focal plane shutter is used as the shutter 213, but a normally closed type focal plane shutter in which the shutter is closed in accordance with the shutter charge may be used. Of course it doesn't matter. Further, although the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 and the in-F liquid crystal monitor 27 are provided as the finder for observing the subject image, any one of them may of course be used.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a normal digital camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can of course be applied to an imaging apparatus incorporated in a mobile phone, a PDA, or the like. It is.

  As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the gist thereof in the implementation stage. . In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, you may delete some components of all the components shown by embodiment.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration mainly including an electric system of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the operation method of the digital camera in one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a figure which shows a mode that the interchangeable lens in imaging | photography state was mounted | worn with the camera main body, (b) is a figure which shows (a). It is a figure which shows a mode that the power switch was turned off in a state, (c) is a figure which shows a mode that the interchangeable lens was removed from the state of (b), (d) is a figure which shows an interchangeable lens from the state of (a). It is a figure which shows a mode that it accommodated. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the power-on reset in the camera main body side in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the power-on reset in the camera main body side in one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

26... Rear liquid crystal monitor, 27... F liquid crystal monitor, 100... Interchangeable lens, 101... Imaging optical system, 103. Optical system drive mechanism, 109 ... Aperture drive mechanism, 111 ... Lens CPU, 121 ... Rotation operation member, 200 ... Camera body, 213 ... Focal plane shutter, 215 ... Dust-proof filter, 216: Piezoelectric element, 217: Infrared cut filter / low pass filter, 219 ... Imaging unit, 221 ... Imaging element, 223 ... Imaging element drive circuit, 225 ... Pre-processing circuit, 235 ... Dustproof filter drive circuit, 237 ... Shutter drive mechanism, 250 ... ASIC, 251 ... Sequence controller (body CPU), 252,. Data bus, 253 ... Contrast AF circuit, 257 ... Image processing circuit, 259 ... Compression / decompression circuit, 261 ... Video signal output circuit, 263 ... Liquid crystal monitor drive circuit, 265 ... SDRAM Detection circuit, 267... SDRAM, 271... I / O circuit, 273... Communication circuit, 275... Recording medium control circuit, 277... Recording medium, 279. ... Flash memory, 283 ... Switch detection circuit, 284 ... Power switch, 285 ... Various switches, 287 ... Attach / detach detection switch, 291 ... Communication contact, 300 ... Control unit

Claims (11)

In digital cameras with removable photographic lenses,
An imaging unit for imaging a subject luminous flux incident through the photographing lens;
An openable / closable shutter mechanism disposed between the photographing lens and the imaging unit;
In a state where the photographing lens is removed, a control unit that maintains the shutter mechanism in an open state;
A digital camera comprising:   2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein when the shutter mechanism is in a closed state, the control unit sets the shutter mechanism in an open state in conjunction with an operation for removing the photographing lens.   The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the control unit sets the shutter mechanism to a closed state when the digital camera shifts to a low power consumption state.   2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein when the digital camera is in a low power consumption state, the control unit detects that the photographing lens has been removed by interruption processing. And a display unit for live view display of the subject image based on the image data output from the imaging unit.
When the photographing lens is detached during the live view display, the control unit stops the live view display and maintains the shutter mechanism in an open state.
The digital camera according to claim 1.   6. The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein when the digital camera shifts to a low power consumption state, the control unit shifts while maintaining the shutter mechanism in an open state.   6. The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein the control unit sets the shutter mechanism in a closed state when the lens is mounted after the taking lens is detached and is shifted to a low power consumption state. . In digital cameras with removable photographic lenses,
An imaging unit for imaging a subject luminous flux incident through the photographing lens;
An openable / closable shutter mechanism disposed between the photographic lens and the image sensor;
A control unit that shifts the digital camera from an operating state to a low power consumption state according to an operation of a power switch, and closes the shutter mechanism;
It has
The control unit causes the digital camera to shift to the operation state and opens the shutter mechanism when the photographing lens is removed in the low power consumption state. camera. In a control method of a digital camera having a detachable photographic lens and an openable / closable shutter mechanism disposed between the photographic lens and the image sensor,
Detect whether the above photographic lens has been removed,
As a result of the detection, when it is detected that the taking lens is removed, the shutter mechanism is maintained in an open state.
A method for controlling a digital camera.   10. The digital camera according to claim 9, wherein when the shutter lens is in a closed state when it is detected that the taking lens is removed, the shutter mechanism is set in an open state. Control method.   The live view display is stopped based on image data output from the image sensor when it is detected that the photographing lens is removed, and the open state of the shutter mechanism is maintained. The control method of the digital camera of 9.