JP2010193377A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a natural zoom operation can not be provided in the case where an imaging device of a conventional electronic camera has a plurality of image capturing ranges. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic camera comprises: a zoom position acquiring section for acquiring a zoom position of an optical system zoom lens; a photographing section for photographing a subject image incident via the optical system zoom lens within a first image capturing range or a second image capturing range; and a zoom control section for controlling the image capturing range for photographing by the photographing section in accordance with the zoom position acquired by the zoom position acquiring section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic camera having a zoom lens.

  In recent years, zoom lenses have been widely used in electronic cameras. In particular, the use of an electronic zoom has become common in a region that exceeds the zoom range of an optical zoom lens. For example, a technique for detecting that the camera has been operated beyond the tele end (the limit zoom position on the telephoto side) and automatically switching to electronic zoom has been studied (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, multiple formats with different image acquisition ranges coexist even with the same lens due to the fact that various sizes of image sensors were used, and the photographer selects the image acquisition range to be imaged with the image sensor at the time of shooting. There is also an electronic camera.

  However, in a single-lens reflex camera in which a photographer rotates a zoom ring of a lens to perform a zoom operation, it is difficult to detect whether the camera is operated beyond the tele end, and a dedicated detection device is not provided. There was a problem that could not be determined.

  Further, since the zoom range of an image to be captured differs depending on the image acquisition range of the image sensor, there is a problem in that the photographer must select the image acquisition range of the image sensor at the time of shooting according to the shooting angle of view.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera capable of realizing a wide-range zoom by a natural zoom operation by linking a zoom operation of an optical zoom lens and switching of an image acquisition range of an image sensor.

  An electronic camera according to the present invention captures a zoom position acquisition unit that acquires a zoom position of an optical zoom lens, and a subject image that enters through the optical zoom lens in a first image acquisition range or a second image acquisition range. And a zoom control unit that controls an image acquisition range captured by the imaging unit in accordance with a zoom position acquired by the zoom position acquisition unit.

  Preferably, the zoom control unit selects the first image acquisition range in a zoom area wider than a first threshold set in advance within a zoom range of the optical zoom lens, and the optical zoom lens The second image acquisition range is selected in a zoom region on the tele side of the second threshold value that is located on the tele side from the first threshold value set in advance in the zoom range, and the first threshold value and the second threshold value In the intermediate zoom region, the image acquisition range is changed in conjunction with the zoom position of the optical zoom lens from the first image acquisition range to the second image acquisition range.

  Preferably, at least one of a setting in which the zoom position at the wide end of the optical zoom lens is set as the first threshold and a setting in which the zoom position at the tele end of the optical zoom lens is set as the second threshold is performed. It is characterized by.

  Preferably, a first threshold value for switching from the first image acquisition range to the second image acquisition range and a second threshold value for switching from the second image acquisition range to the first image acquisition range are provided, and the zoom control is performed. When the zoom position of the optical zoom lens changes in the tele side direction, the unit switches from the first image acquisition range to the second image acquisition range with the first threshold, and the zoom position of the optical zoom lens is When changing in the wide side direction, the second threshold value is switched from the second image acquisition range to the first image acquisition range.

  Preferably, the first image acquisition range is wider than the second image acquisition range.

  Preferably, the zoom control unit performs control within a range in which a zoom position of the optical zoom lens changes.

  According to the present invention, a wide-range zoom can be realized by a natural zoom operation by linking the zoom operation of the optical zoom lens and the switching of the image acquisition range of the image sensor.

1 is a block diagram of an electronic camera 100 according to the present embodiment. 4 is an auxiliary diagram for explaining an image acquisition range of the image sensor 104. FIG. It is an auxiliary | assistant figure for demonstrating a zoom range. FIG. 6 is an auxiliary diagram for explaining a zoom range of “first zoom operation mode”. It is a flowchart which shows the process of "1st zoom operation mode." It is an auxiliary figure for explaining electronic zoom. FIG. 10 is an auxiliary diagram for explaining a zoom range of a “second zoom operation mode”. It is a flowchart which shows the process of "2nd zoom operation mode." FIG. 10 is an auxiliary diagram for explaining a zoom range of “third zoom operation mode”. It is a flowchart which shows the process of "3rd zoom operation mode." FIG. 10 is an auxiliary diagram for explaining another zoom range of the “third zoom operation mode”.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an electronic camera according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic camera 100 according to the present embodiment. The electronic camera 100 is a single-lens reflex camera, and a zoom lens 102 is attached to the camera body 101 in FIG. Further, the electronic camera 100 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of “zoom operation modes” that use both optical zoom and electronic zoom in accordance with the zoom ring operation of the zoom lens 102.

[Configuration of the camera body 101]
In FIG. 1, a camera body 101 includes a mechanical shutter 103, an image sensor 104, an AFE (analog front end) 105, an image buffer 106, a control unit 107, a memory 108, a display unit 109, and a viewfinder display unit. 109a, memory card I / F 110, operation unit 111, shutter drive unit 112, AE sensor 113, AF sensor 114, mirror drive unit 115, aperture drive unit 116, motor 117, and timing generation unit. (TG) 118.

  In FIG. 1, the subject light incident on the zoom lens 102 is incident on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 104 via the mechanical shutter 103.

  A photoelectric conversion unit is two-dimensionally arranged on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 104, and an electric signal corresponding to the amount of light incident on each photoelectric conversion unit is output to the AFE 105. In particular, in the present embodiment, the imaging element 104 has two image acquisition ranges, and the first image acquisition range Pa and the second image acquisition are performed according to a command from the format switching unit 151 of the control unit 107 described later. The range Pb can be switched and read. Switching between the two image acquisition ranges is performed by the control unit 107 instructing the timing generation unit 118 to vary the timing signal output from the timing generation unit 118. In particular, the first image acquisition range Pa is wider than the second image acquisition range Pb. For example, when the number of recording pixels in the first image acquisition range Pa is 12M pixels, the number of recording pixels in the second image acquisition range Pb is It is composed of 5M pixels.

  The AFE 105 performs noise removal and amplification of the electrical signal output from the image sensor 104, converts it into a digital signal by an A / D converter, and temporarily stores the digital signal for one screen as image data in the image buffer 106. To remember.

  The control unit 107 operates according to a program stored therein in advance, and controls each unit of the electronic camera 100. The control unit 107 also performs image processing such as JPEG compression after performing white balance processing, color correction processing, gamma correction processing, and the like on the image data temporarily stored in the image buffer 106. . Then, the control unit 107 stores the image data after JPEG compression in the memory card 110a via the memory card I / F 110. In particular, in the present embodiment, zoom control using both optical zoom and electronic zoom is performed according to the zoom ring position of the zoom lens 102 in accordance with the “zoom operation mode” set by the zoom mode setting unit 152 of the control unit 107. . Here, the electronic zoom is performed by processing of the electronic zoom control unit 153 of the control unit 107. The processing of the electronic zoom control unit 153 will be described in detail later.

  The memory 108 stores a shooting mode, exposure information, focus information, and the like set in the electronic camera 100. The memory 108 is also used as a display buffer when displaying an image temporarily stored in the image buffer 106 or an image stored in the memory card 110 a on the display unit 109. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lens information read from the zoom lens 102 attached to the electronic camera 100 and the zoom operation mode selected by the photographer on the “zoom operation mode” selection menu screen of the zoom mode setting unit 152 are stored. To do. The type of “zoom operation mode” will be described in detail later.

  The display unit 109 displays a live view image or a captured image output from the control unit 107, operation information of the electronic camera 100, a menu screen, or the like. The control unit 107 also displays operation information and the like on the finder display unit 109a. In particular, in the present embodiment, the finder display unit 109a is configured by a transparent liquid crystal plate that can display characters and graphics while observing the subject image projected on the finder, and the acquisition range of an image captured by the image sensor 104 is a frame. Can be displayed. Alternatively, when an electronic viewfinder is installed instead of the optical viewfinder shown in FIG. 1, the same information as the display unit 109 may be displayed on the electronic viewfinder.

  The memory card I / F 110 has a connection connector, and the memory card 110a is attached to the connection connector. Then, the image data output from the control unit 107 is written into the memory card 110 a, and conversely, the image data stored in the memory card 110 a is read out to the control unit 107. The memory card 110a is configured by a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and stores image data captured by the electronic camera 100.

  The operation unit 111 includes operation members such as a power button, a release button, a shooting mode selection dial, and a cursor key. The user operates the electronic camera 100 using these operation members, and the operation information is output to the control unit 107. The control unit 107 controls the entire operation of the electronic camera 100 in accordance with operation information input from the operation unit 111.

  The shutter drive unit 112 opens and closes the mechanical shutter 103 at a predetermined shutter speed in response to a command from the control unit 107. The predetermined shutter speed is determined by the control unit 107 according to the shooting mode. Further, when the live view image is displayed on the display unit 109, an electronic shutter that uses the mechanical shutter 103 in an open state and controls the shutter speed according to the exposure time of the image sensor 104 is used.

  The AE sensor 113 measures the brightness of the subject light input via the zoom lens 102 and outputs it to the control unit 107. The control unit 107 calculates an aperture value, a shutter speed of the mechanical shutter 103, and the like so that an appropriate exposure is obtained according to the photometric value of the AE sensor 113. Then, the control unit 107 instructs the aperture driving unit 116 to set the calculated aperture value, and instructs the shutter driving unit 112 to open and close at the calculated shutter speed.

  The AF sensor 114 measures the defocus amount of the subject light input via the zoom lens 102 by the pupil division method or the like, and outputs it to the control unit 107. The control unit 107 obtains the position of the focus lens of the zoom lens 102 according to the defocus amount input from the AF sensor 114, and instructs the zoom lens 102 side to adjust the focus lens position. The configuration on the zoom lens 102 side will be described later.

  The mirror driving unit 115 moves up and down the flip-up type mirror 206 in the mirror box 201 in accordance with a command from the control unit 107.

  The diaphragm driving unit 116 operates the motor (M) 117 in response to a command from the control unit 107, and opens and closes the zoom lens side diaphragm 302 via an interlocking pin 301 that is interlocked with the opening and closing of the zoom lens 102 side diaphragm. , Adjust to a predetermined aperture value. The predetermined aperture value is obtained by the control unit 107 according to the shooting mode.

  The timing generator 118 outputs a timing signal to the image sensor 104, the AFE 105, and the image buffer 106 in response to a command from the controller 107. Then, an image signal in a predetermined format (image acquisition range) is read from the image sensor 104 in accordance with this timing signal. The predetermined format is designated by the format switching unit 151 of the control unit 107.

[Structure of optical system of camera body 101]
Next, the structure of the optical system of the camera body 101 will be described. In FIG. 1, a mirror box 201 is disposed between the mechanical shutter 103 and the zoom lens 102 along the optical axis at the center of the camera body 101. In the upper region of the camera body 101, a focusing screen 202, a condenser lens 203, a pentaprism 204, and an eyepiece lens 205 constituting an optical viewfinder system are disposed. The focusing screen 202 is positioned above the mirror box 201 and once forms an image of the light beam reflected by the mirror 206. The light beam formed on the focusing screen 202 passes through the condenser lens 203 and the pentaprism 204, and is guided to the rear of the camera body 101 from the exit surface deflected by a predetermined angle with respect to the incident surface of the pentaprism 204. The image is projected onto the eyes of the photographer looking through the viewfinder via the viewfinder display unit 109a.

  The central portion of the mirror 206 is a half mirror that transmits light, and the light beam that has passed through the mirror 206 is reflected downward by the sub mirror 207 and guided to the AF sensor 114.

  During photometry, a part of the light beam reflected by the mirror 206 and imaged on the focusing screen 202 passes through the condenser lens 203 and the pentaprism 204 and is guided to the AE sensor 113 provided in the vicinity of the pentaprism 204. Measure the brightness of the subject.

  At the time of shooting, the mirror 206 and the sub mirror 207 are flipped up via the mirror driving unit 115 in accordance with a command from the control unit 107, and subject light incident from the zoom lens 102 is coupled to the image sensor 104 via the mechanical shutter 103. Imaged. After photographing, the mechanical shutter 103 is closed and the mirror 206 returns to the position before the flip-up.

  Here, when a live view image is displayed and photographed on the display unit 109, the mirror 206 is kept in a state of being flipped up and the mechanical shutter 103 is also opened, and the live view image is photographed with an electronic shutter. The live view image is displayed on the display unit 109. When the release button of the operation unit 111 is pressed, the mechanical shutter 103 is once closed, the mirror 206 is returned to the original position, the light is measured by the AE sensor 113, and then the mirror 206 is flipped up again. Are opened and closed at the set shutter speed, and the image pickup device 104 performs the main photographing.

[Configuration of Zoom Lens 102]
Next, the structure of the zoom lens 102 will be described. In FIG. 1, the zoom lens 102 includes an interlock driving pin 301 for aperture driving described above, an aperture 302, a plurality of lenses 303 constituting a focus lens, a zoom lens, and the like, a lens control unit 304, and focus driving. 305, a motor (M) 306, a focus position detection unit 307, a zoom ring 308, a zoom position detection unit 309, a contact connector 310, and a ROM 311. The aperture control may be arranged not on the camera body 101 side but on the zoom lens 102 side.

  The lens control unit 304 is connected to the camera body 101 side via the contact connector 310 to receive power from the camera body 101 side, and is connected to the control unit 107 to receive a zoom lens according to a command received from the control unit 107. The operation of each unit 102 is controlled. Alternatively, the lens control unit 304 outputs lens information (such as the focus lens position and zoom lens position of the zoom lens 102, the model number, and the optical zoom range) to the control unit 107.

  The focus driving unit 305 drives the motor 306 in accordance with a command from the lens control unit 304 so that the focus lens in the lens 303 becomes a predetermined position. The predetermined position of the focus lens is the focus lens position obtained by the control unit 107 of the camera body 101 as described above.

  The focus position detection unit 307 reads the position of the focus lens adjusted by the focus driving unit 305 by driving the motor 306 and outputs the read position to the lens control unit 304. As a result, the lens control unit 304 acquires the position of the focus lens, and checks whether or not the focus lens has been moved to a predetermined position commanded to the focus driving unit 305.

  The zoom ring 308 is a ring-shaped operation member provided around the lens barrel of the zoom lens 102, and is manually rotated by the photographer to change the position of the zoom lens in the lens 303.

  The zoom position detection unit 309 reads the position of the zoom lens changed by the operation of the zoom ring 308 and outputs it to the lens control unit 304. Thereby, the lens control unit 304 acquires a zoom position. Note that the zoom position detection unit 309 may detect the position of the zoom lens itself, or may detect the rotational position of the zoom ring 308.

  The contact connector 310 includes a metal contact on the zoom lens 102 side and a metal contact on the camera body 101 side. When the lens barrel of the zoom lens 102 is attached to the camera body 101, the metal contacts on both sides are connected. It is possible to perform power supply from the camera side to the zoom lens 102 side, communication between the control unit 107 and the lens control unit 304, and the like.

  The ROM 311 stores lens information such as the serial number and model number stored when the zoom lens 102 is manufactured, and the focal length range of the zoom lens 102. The lens information is appropriately read by the lens control unit 304 and output to the control unit 107 on the camera body 101 side.

[About “Zoom Operation Mode”]
Next, the “zoom operation mode” of the electronic camera 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, not only a normal optical zoom operated by the photographer using the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102 but also a zoom operation corresponding to the two image acquisition ranges of the image sensor 104 can be performed. The “zoom operation mode” includes a plurality of modes as will be described later, and zoom control is performed according to the “zoom operation mode” set by the zoom mode setting unit 152 of the control unit 107.

  Here, the case where the focal length range (optical zoom range) of the zoom lens 102 is 70 mm to 300 mm when the image acquisition range of the image sensor 104 is the first image acquisition range Pa will be described as an example. In this case, as described above, the image sensor 104 has two image acquisition ranges, ie, a first image acquisition range and a second image acquisition range that have different shooting angles of view even when the focal length of the zoom lens is the same. Therefore, even if the optical zoom range in the first image acquisition range Pa is 70 mm to 300 mm, the zoom range in terms of the first image acquisition range Pa format in the second image acquisition range Pb does not become 70 mm to 300 mm.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the second image acquisition range Pb is smaller than the first image acquisition range Pa, and the focal length display (70 mm to 300 mm) of the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102 is the first image acquisition range Pa. It is assumed that it matches the zoom range of the image photographed at. In addition, the zoom range of the image captured in the second image acquisition range Pb is assumed to be 1.5 times the zoom range of the image captured in the first image acquisition range Pa. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3A, the zoom range of the image captured in the first image acquisition range Pa is 70 mm to 300 mm, but the zoom range 402 of the image captured in the second image acquisition range Pb. Is from 105 mm to 450 mm in terms of the first image acquisition range Pa format. That is, when the image sensor 104 is set to the second image acquisition range Pb, an image having the same angle of view as when the zoom lens of 105 mm to 450 mm is converted in terms of the first image acquisition range Pa format is obtained. It will be. Here, switching between the first image acquisition range Pa and the second image acquisition range Pb is performed according to a command from the format switching unit 151 of the control unit 107.

  Since the electronic camera 100 according to the present embodiment can switch the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 to either the first image acquisition range Pa or the second image acquisition range Pb, substantial zooming of the electronic camera 100 itself is possible. The range is from 70 mm to 450 mm. In particular, as shown in FIG. 3B, the electronic camera 100 according to the present embodiment does not change the operation range (position from 70 mm to 300 mm) of the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102 operated by the photographer. The substantial zoom range of an image captured at 100 can be changed from 70 mm to 450 mm. For example, when the position of the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102 is 300 mm, the substantial zoom position of the image captured by the electronic camera 100 is 450 mm in terms of the first image acquisition range Pa format. When the position of the zoom ring 308 of 102 is at a position of 70 mm, the substantial zoom position of the image captured by the electronic camera 100 is also 70 mm. As described above, the photographer can change the substantial zoom range of the image photographed by the electronic camera 100 from 70 mm to 450 mm only by operating the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102.

  Further, the control unit 107 displays the captured image on the display unit 109 as a live view image corresponding to the image acquisition range, so that the photographer can perform a zoom operation while viewing the display unit 109. Alternatively, when the photographer is looking at the subject with the optical viewfinder, the control unit 107 displays the image acquisition range of the image captured on the transparent liquid crystal plate of the viewfinder display unit 109a with a frame. Can know which part of the subject projected on the viewfinder is the image acquisition range.

  The “zoom operation mode” of the electronic camera 100 according to the present embodiment is other than the normal zoom operation mode in which the shooting angle of view of the normal image sensor 104 is fixed to either the first image acquisition range Pa or the second image acquisition range Pb. In addition, there are three “zoom operation modes” described below. The plurality of “zoom operation modes” are selected by the photographer on the menu screen displayed by the zoom mode setting unit 152.

[About the "first zoom operation mode"]
The first zoom operation mode will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, a first threshold value (first focal length) Za and a second threshold value (second focal length) Zb are provided within the zoom range of the zoom lens 102 (between the wide end ZW and the tele end ZT). Then, at the position of the zoom ring 308 smaller than the first threshold value Za, the position of the zoom ring 308 larger than the second threshold value Zb is used by fixing the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 to the first image acquisition range Pa and using only the optical zoom. Then, only the optical zoom is used with the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 fixed to the second image acquisition range Pb. Furthermore, at the position of the zoom ring 308 between the first threshold value Za and the second threshold value Zb, an electronic zoom that changes the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 between the first image acquisition range Pa and the second image acquisition range Pb is performed. Combined. For example, in FIG. 4, when the wide end ZW is 70 mm, the telephoto end ZT is 300 mm, the first threshold value Za is 105 mm, and the second threshold value Zb is 200 mm, the image sensor 104 is used when the zoom ring 308 is between 70 mm and 105 mm. Is the first image acquisition range Pa, and when the position of the zoom ring 308 is between 200 mm and 300 mm, the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 is the second image acquisition range Pb. When the position of the zoom ring 308 is between 105 mm and 200 mm, the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 varies from the first image acquisition range Pa to the second image acquisition range Pb using electronic zoom together. The electronic zoom is processed by the electronic zoom control unit 153 of the control unit 107, as will be described in detail later.

  Next, zoom processing in the “first zoom operation mode” will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the flowchart of FIG. 5 is mainly based on the operation of the control unit 107 and is processed according to a program stored in the control unit 107 in advance. In addition, the electronic camera 100 is already turned on and the live view image is displayed on the display unit 109. Further, an image acquisition range having the same angle of view as the live view image displayed on the display unit 109 is displayed in a frame on the transparent liquid crystal plate of the finder display unit 109a. It is assumed that the “first zoom operation mode” is selected in the zoom mode setting unit 152.

  (Step S <b> 101) The control unit 107 starts zoom processing in the “first zoom operation mode”.

  (Step S <b> 102) The control unit 107 acquires the zoom position of the zoom lens 102 (the position of the zoom ring 308) from the lens control unit 304.

  (Step S103) The control unit 107 determines whether or not the zoom position acquired in step S102 is greater than or equal to the first threshold value Za. If the zoom position is equal to or greater than the first threshold value Za, the process proceeds to step S105, and if the zoom position is not equal to or greater than the first threshold value Za, the process proceeds to step S104.

  (Step S <b> 104) The control unit 107 selects the first image acquisition range Pa as the shooting field angle of the image sensor 104.

  (Step S105) The control unit 107 determines whether or not the zoom position acquired in step S102 is equal to or less than the second threshold value Zb. If the zoom position is equal to or smaller than the second threshold value Zb, the process proceeds to step S107. If the zoom position is not equal to or smaller than the second threshold value Zb, the process proceeds to step S106.

  (Step S106) The control unit 107 selects the second image acquisition range Pb as the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104.

  (Step S107) The control unit 107 performs an electronic zoom process between the first image acquisition range Pa and the second image acquisition range Pb so that the image acquisition range corresponding to the zoom position acquired in step S102 is obtained. Here, the electronic zoom processed by the electronic zoom control unit 153 of the control unit 107 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the image acquisition range between the first image acquisition range Pa and the second image acquisition range Pb is varied. In the example of FIG. 4, since the electronic zoom is performed when the zoom position of the zoom lens 102 (position of the zoom ring 308) is between 105 mm and 200 mm, the image acquisition range of the captured image shown in FIG. 6 is the image acquisition range Pa. The zoom position of the zoom lens 102 is 105 mm. In the case of the image acquisition range Pb in FIG. 6, the zoom position of the zoom lens 102 is 200 mm. Here, for example, when the zoom position of the zoom lens 102 is set to 135 mm, the image acquisition range Pc slightly smaller than the image acquisition range Pa is set as the image acquisition range of the captured image. Furthermore, when the zoom position of the zoom lens 102 is set to 165 mm, the image acquisition range Pd slightly smaller than the image acquisition range Pc is set as the image acquisition range of the captured image. Here, since the image acquisition range that can be read from the image sensor 104 in this embodiment is either the image acquisition range Pa or the image acquisition range Pb, the image data of the image acquisition range Pa is transferred from the image sensor 104 when electronic zooming is performed. Once read out to the image buffer 106, the control unit 107 reads out the image data from the image buffer 106 by trimming the image acquisition range corresponding to the zoom position. Alternatively, when an address of a pixel to be read by a CMOS image sensor can be arbitrarily designated, only image data of a pixel corresponding to an image acquisition range at the time of electronic zoom may be read from the CMOS image sensor.

  As described above, in the “first zoom operation mode”, the electronic zoom control unit 153 of the control unit 107 performs electronic zoom according to the zoom position of the zoom lens 102. In particular, at this time, since the zoom position of the zoom lens 102 (the position of the zoom ring 308) is changed, the optical zoom is also performed at the same time. That is, a zoom operation using both electronic zoom and optical zoom is performed. As a result, the photographer can simply perform a wide-range zoom operation from 70 mm to 450 mm on an actually captured image only by performing an operation within the zoom range (from 70 mm to 300 mm) of the zoom ring 308. it can.

  In FIG. 4, a change in the position of the zoom ring 308 (from 105 mm to 200 mm) of the zoom lens 102 and a zoom change (from 105 mm to 300 mm) of the actually photographed image have a linear proportional relationship. Although described, it may be changed in a curved manner. For example, when it is desired to finely adjust the zoom range on the wide side, the zoom change with respect to the position change of the zoom ring 308 is small in the wide side region, and the zoom change with respect to the position change of the zoom ring 308 is large in the tele side region. In addition, a characteristic such as a curve 501 may be used. Or, on the contrary, when it is desired to finely adjust the zoom range on the tele side, the zoom change with respect to the position change of the zoom ring 308 in the tele side region becomes small, and the zoom change with respect to the position change of the zoom ring 308 in the wide side region. A characteristic such as a curve 502 may be used so as to increase. Alternatively, since the zoom position detection unit 309 does not always detect the position of the zoom ring 308 continuously, if this detection characteristic changes stepwise, in order to correct this, a stepped shape having the opposite characteristic is obtained. You may change it.

[About "2nd zoom operation mode"]
Next, the “second zoom operation mode” will be described with reference to FIG. In the “second zoom operation mode”, as shown in FIG. 7, the zoom position of the zoom lens 102 (of the zoom ring 308) is within the entire zoom range of the zoom lens 102 (between the wide end ZW and the tele end ZT). The electronic zoom that changes the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 between the first image acquisition range Pa and the second image acquisition range Pb in accordance with the position) is also used. In the example of FIG. 7, the wide end ZW is 70 mm and the tele end ZT is 300 mm as in FIG.

  In FIG. 7, when the position of the zoom ring 308 is 70 mm, the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 is the first image acquisition range Pa, and when the position of the zoom ring 308 is 300 mm, the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 is the second image acquisition range Pb. It becomes. Unlike in the case of FIG. 4, at all positions of the zoom ring 308 (between 70 mm and 300 mm), the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 uses electronic zoom from the first image acquisition range Pa to the second image acquisition range Pb. Variable. As described with reference to FIG. 6, the electronic zoom varies between the image acquisition range Pa and the image acquisition range Pb according to the zoom position of the zoom lens 102 (position of the zoom ring 308). Get the image acquisition range.

  Here, zoom processing in the “second zoom operation mode” will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8. The flowchart in FIG. 8 is processed according to a program stored in the control unit 107 in advance, with the operation of the control unit 107 as a main body, as in the flowchart in FIG. In addition, the electronic camera 100 is already turned on and the live view image is displayed on the display unit 109. Alternatively, an image acquisition range having the same angle of view as the live view image displayed on the display unit 109 is displayed in a frame on the transparent liquid crystal plate of the finder display unit 109a. It is assumed that the “second zoom operation mode” is selected in the zoom mode setting unit 152.

  (Step S <b> 201) The control unit 107 starts zoom processing in the “second zoom operation mode”.

  (Step S <b> 202) The control unit 107 acquires the zoom position of the zoom lens 102 (the position of the zoom ring 308) from the lens control unit 304. This process is the same as step S102 in the flowchart of FIG.

  (Step S203) The control unit 107 performs an electronic zoom process between the first image acquisition range Pa and the second image acquisition range Pb so that the image acquisition range corresponding to the zoom position acquired in step S202 is obtained. This process is the same as step S107 in the flowchart of FIG. That is, electronic zoom is used in accordance with the zoom position acquired in step S202. For example, in FIG. 7, when the position of the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102 is 90 mm, the image acquisition range is slightly smaller than the image acquisition range Pa. A captured image having an angle of view captured by a lens having a focal length of substantially 105 mm is obtained. Similarly, when the position of the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102 is set to 210 mm, an image acquisition range slightly larger than the image acquisition range Pb is obtained, and a captured image with an angle of view captured by a lens having a focal length of 300 mm is obtained. It is done.

  Here, in the “first zoom operation mode” of FIG. 4 described above, the zoom range of the actually photographed image also changes from 70 mm to 105 mm while the position of the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102 is between 70 mm and 105 mm. However, when the position of the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102 is between 105 mm and 200 mm, the zoom range of the actually captured image changes greatly from 105 mm to 300 mm. As a result, the speed of the actual zoom change with respect to the zoom operation changes suddenly at 105 mm of the position of the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102, so that the photographer may feel uncomfortable. In contrast, in the “second zoom operation mode” of FIG. 7, the position of the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102 is changed (from 70 mm to 300 mm), and the zoom of the actually captured image is changed (from 70 mm to 450 mm). Is a proportional relationship. As a result, the zoom of the photographed image changes according to the speed at which the photographer changes the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102, so that the zoom operation can be smoothly performed with a natural feeling without a sense of incongruity.

  As described above, in the “second zoom operation mode”, the control unit 107 performs a zoom operation in which the electronic zoom and the optical zoom are used in accordance with the zoom position of the zoom lens 102. By simply performing an operation within the range (from 70 mm to 300 mm), a wide-range zoom operation from 70 mm to 450 mm can be continuously performed on an actually captured image.

  In FIG. 7, the change in the position of the zoom ring 308 (from 70 mm to 300 mm) of the zoom lens 102 and the change in the zoom of the actually captured image (from 70 mm to 450 mm) are linearly proportional. As described above, it may be changed in a curved manner as in FIG. For example, when it is desired to finely adjust the zoom range on the wide side, the zoom change with respect to the position change of the zoom ring 308 is small in the wide side region, and the zoom change with respect to the position change of the zoom ring 308 is large in the tele side region. In addition, a characteristic such as a curve 503 may be used. Or, on the contrary, when it is desired to finely adjust the zoom range on the tele side, the zoom change with respect to the position change of the zoom ring 308 in the tele side region becomes small, and the zoom change with respect to the position change of the zoom ring 308 in the wide side region A characteristic like a curve 504 may be used so as to increase. Alternatively, since the zoom position detection unit 309 does not always detect the position of the zoom ring 308 continuously, if this detection characteristic changes stepwise, in order to correct this, a stepped shape having the opposite characteristic is obtained. You may change it.

[About “3rd zoom operation mode”]
Next, the “third zoom operation mode” will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B. In the “third zoom operation mode”, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the imaging field angle of the image sensor 104 is changed according to the zoom position of the zoom lens 102 (position of the zoom ring 308). One of the first image acquisition range Pa and the second image acquisition range Pb is selected. In the “third zoom operation mode”, the electronic zoom that arbitrarily changes the image acquisition range is not used together with the “first zoom operation mode” and the “second zoom operation mode”.

  In the examples of FIGS. 9A and 9B as well, the optical zoom range of the zoom lens 102 is 70 mm for the wide end ZW and 300 mm for the tele end ZT, as in FIGS. FIG. 9A shows a case where the position of the zoom ring 308 moves from the range of 105 mm or less to the tele side, and FIG. 9B shows the position of the zoom ring 308 from the range of 200 mm or more to the wide side. The case of moving is shown.

  9A and 9B, when the position of the zoom ring 308 is 105 mm or less, the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 is fixed to the first image acquisition range Pa, and when the position of the zoom ring 308 is 200 mm or more, imaging is performed. The field angle of view of the element 104 is fixed to the second image acquisition range Pb. As shown in FIG. 9A, when the position of the zoom ring 308 moves from the range of 105 mm or less to the tele side, the first image acquisition range Pa is maintained when the position of the zoom ring 308 is less than 200 mm. When the position of the zoom ring 308 reaches 200 mm or more, the zoom ring 308 is switched to the second image acquisition range Pb. Therefore, when the position of the zoom ring 308 moves from the range of 105 mm or less to the tele side, the zoom range of the actually photographed image ranges from 70 mm to less than 200 mm and from 300 mm to 450 mm. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the position of the zoom ring 308 moves from the range of 200 mm or more to the wide side, the second image acquisition range Pb is maintained when the position of the zoom ring 308 is greater than 105 mm. When the position of the zoom ring 308 becomes 105 mm or less, the first image acquisition range Pa is switched. Therefore, when the position of the zoom ring 308 moves from the range of 200 mm or more to the wide side, the zoom range of the actually photographed image is in the range of 70 mm or more and 105 mm or less, and in the range of 157.5 mm or more and 450 mm or less. .

  As described above, in the “third zoom operation mode”, when the position of the zoom ring 308 moves from the range of 105 mm or less to the tele side, there is no range of 200 mm or more and less than 300 mm of the zoom range of the actually captured image. When the position of the zoom ring 308 moves from the range of 200 mm or more to the wide side, there is no range of 105 mm to 157.5 mm or less of the zoom range of the actually captured image. However, even when the position of the zoom ring 308 moves from the range of 105 mm or less to the tele side, the position of the zoom ring 308 is widened once the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 is switched to the second image acquisition range Pb. By moving to the side, the zoom range of the portion jumping from 200 mm to 300 mm can be used. Similarly, even when the position of the zoom ring 308 moves from the range of 200 mm or more to the wide side, the position of the zoom ring 308 is temporarily changed after the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104 is switched to the first image acquisition range Pa. By moving to the tele side, the zoom range of the portion jumping from 157.5 mm to 105 mm can be used.

  Here, zoom processing in the “third zoom operation mode” will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10. 10 is mainly based on the operation of the control unit 107 and is processed according to a program stored in advance in the control unit 107, similarly to the flowchart of FIG. In addition, the electronic camera 100 is already turned on and the live view image is displayed on the display unit 109. Alternatively, an image acquisition range having the same angle of view as the live view image displayed on the display unit 109 is displayed in a frame on the transparent liquid crystal plate of the finder display unit 109a. It is assumed that the “third zoom operation mode” is selected in the zoom mode setting unit 152.

  (Step S <b> 301) The control unit 107 starts zoom processing in the “third zoom operation mode”. It is assumed that the first image acquisition range Pa is selected as an initial value for the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104.

  (Step S <b> 302) The control unit 107 acquires the zoom position of the zoom lens 102 (the position of the zoom ring 308) from the lens control unit 304.

  (Step S303) The control unit 107 determines whether or not the zoom position acquired in step S302 is greater than or equal to the first threshold value Za. If the zoom position is equal to or greater than the first threshold value Za, the process proceeds to step S305. If the zoom position is not equal to or greater than the first threshold value Za, the process proceeds to step S304.

  (Step S304) The control unit 107 selects the first image acquisition range Pa as the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104. If the first image acquisition range Pa has already been selected, this is maintained.

  (Step S305) The control unit 107 determines whether or not the zoom position acquired in step S302 is equal to or less than the second threshold value Zb. If the zoom position is equal to or smaller than the second threshold value Zb, the process proceeds to step S307. If the zoom position is not equal to or smaller than the second threshold value Zb, the process proceeds to step S306.

  (Step S306) The control unit 107 selects the second image acquisition range Pb as the shooting angle of view of the image sensor 104. If the second image acquisition range Pb has already been selected, this is maintained.

  (Step S307) The control unit 107 maintains the already selected image acquisition range. That is, when the first image acquisition range Pa is selected, the first image acquisition range Pa is maintained, and when the second image acquisition range Pb is selected, the second image acquisition range Pb is maintained.

  As described above, in the “third zoom operation mode”, the control unit 107 determines two shooting angles of view of the first image acquisition range Pa and the second image acquisition range Pb of the image sensor 104 according to the zoom position of the zoom lens 102. Automatically switch to one of these, and always use only optical zoom. As a result, a high-quality image can be taken while utilizing the resolution of the image sensor 104 on the wide side, and a high-power zoom up to 450 mm can be used on the tele side. In addition, the photographer only needs to operate the zoom ring 308 of the zoom lens 102 from 70 mm to 300 mm, and does not need to perform a special operation for switching the shooting angle of view during shooting.

  In FIG. 9A, when the position of the zoom ring 308 moves from the range of 105 mm or less to the tele side, the position of the zoom ring 308 is 200 mm and is switched to the second image acquisition range Pb. 11 (a), the zoom image may be switched to the second image acquisition range Pb at 300 mm of the tele end position of the zoom ring 308. Similarly, in FIG. 9B, when the position of the zoom ring 308 moves from the range of 200 mm or more to the wide side, the position of the zoom ring 308 is 105 mm and the first image acquisition range Pa is switched. As shown in FIG. 11B, the zoom image may be switched to the first image acquisition range Pa at 70 mm of the wide end position of the zoom ring 308. As a result, a high-quality image can be taken within the optical zoom range of the zoom lens 102 while taking advantage of the resolution of the image sensor 104, and a high-power zoom up to 450 mm can also be used on the telephoto side.

  As described above, in the “third zoom operation mode”, since the hysteresis is given to the relationship between the zoom operation and the image acquisition range switching operation of the image sensor 104, the normal zoom only by the optical zoom is performed within a certain zoom range. While realizing the operation, it is possible to cope with wide-area zoom photographing from 70 mm to 450 mm.

  As described above, as described in each embodiment, the electronic camera 100 according to the present embodiment links the zoom operation of the optical zoom lens 102 and the switching of the two image acquisition ranges of the image sensor 104, Natural zoom operation can be realized. The electronic camera 100 according to the present embodiment includes not only a still camera that captures a still image but also a video camera that captures a moving image, a mobile phone with a camera, and the like. It can be applied to a photographing apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Electronic camera 101 ... Camera body 102 ... Zoom lens 103 ... Mechanical shutter 104 ... Imaging element 105 ... AFE
106 ... Image buffer 107 ... Control unit 108 ... Memory 109 ... Display unit 109a ... Finder display unit 110 ... Memory card I / F
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 111 ... Operation part 112 ... Shutter drive part 113 ... AE sensor 114 ... AF sensor 115 ... Mirror drive part 116 ... Aperture drive part 117 ... Motor 118 ... Timing generation Department (TG)
151 ... Format switching unit 152 ... Zoom mode setting unit 153 ... Electronic zoom control unit 201 ... Mirror box 202 ... Focus plate 203 ... Condenser lens 204 ... Penta prism 205 ... -Eyepiece 206 ... Mirror 207 ... Sub mirror 301 ... Interlocking pin 302 ... Diaphragm 303 ... Lens 304 ... Lens control unit 305 ... Focus drive unit 306 ... Motor (M 307: Focus position detection unit 308 ... Zoom ring 309 ... Zoom position detection unit 310 ... Contact connector 311 ... ROM

JP 2000-059667 A

Claims (6)

A zoom position acquisition unit for acquiring the zoom position of the optical zoom lens;
A photographing unit that photographs a subject image incident through the optical zoom lens in a first image acquisition range or a second image acquisition range;
An electronic camera comprising: a zoom control unit that controls an image acquisition range captured by the imaging unit in accordance with a zoom position acquired by the zoom position acquisition unit. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
The zoom control unit selects the first image acquisition range in a zoom region wider than a first threshold set in advance within the zoom range of the optical zoom lens, and falls within the zoom range of the optical zoom lens. The zoom range between the first threshold and the second threshold is selected in the zoom area between the first threshold and the second threshold. An electronic camera, wherein the image acquisition range is changed in conjunction with a zoom position of an optical zoom lens from the first image acquisition range to the second image acquisition range. The electronic camera according to claim 2,
The electronic system is characterized in that at least one of setting that the zoom position at the wide end of the optical system zoom lens is the first threshold value and setting that the zoom position at the tele end of the optical system zoom lens is the second threshold value is performed. camera. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
A first threshold value for switching from the first image acquisition range to the second image acquisition range and a second threshold value for switching from the second image acquisition range to the first image acquisition range;
The zoom control unit switches from the first image acquisition range to the second image acquisition range at the first threshold when the zoom position of the optical zoom lens changes in the telephoto direction, and When the zoom position changes in the wide side direction, the electronic camera is switched from the second image acquisition range to the first image acquisition range by the second threshold value. The electronic camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the first image acquisition range is wider than the second image acquisition range. The electronic camera according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the zoom control unit performs control within a range in which a zoom position of the optical zoom lens changes.

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