JP2010200253A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus for collecting sounds and capturing images in accordance with a distance between the imaging apparatus and a subject. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus includes an acquisition part, an imaging part, a control part and a recording control part. The acquisition part obtains focal distance information that is information about a focal distance of a photographing lens. The imaging part images a subject via the photographing lens to produce image data. Based on the focal distance information obtained by the acquisition part, the control part changes directivity of a microphone for collecting sounds. The recording control part stores the image data and sound data collected via the microphone in a storage part in association with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera or a video camera that captures still images or moving images together with sound.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a method for recording a sound binormally (stereo) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-136215 A

  Incidentally, in recent years, single-lens reflex cameras that capture moving images together with sound have been developed. In an imaging apparatus such as this single-lens reflex camera, the lens can be exchanged, and a telephoto lens can be used. When such a telephoto lens is used, there is a problem that it is difficult to collect and record sound around the subject because the distance between the imaging device and the subject is long. For this problem, it is conceivable to use a microphone having directivity.

  However, when using a wide-angle lens or a standard lens, the distance between the imaging device and the subject is short, and it may be desired to collect and record the sound around the imaging camera. In such a case, it is unsuitable to use a microphone having directivity as described above. That is, the conventional image pickup apparatus has a problem that sound cannot be picked up and picked up appropriately depending on the distance between the image pickup apparatus and the subject.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of appropriately collecting and capturing sound according to the distance between the imaging apparatus and the subject. is there.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and the invention according to claim 1 includes an acquisition unit that acquires focal length information, which is information on the focal length of the photographing lens, and the photographing lens. An imaging unit that images a subject and generates image data, a control unit that changes the directivity of a microphone that collects sound based on focal length information acquired by the acquisition unit, the image data and the microphone And a recording control unit that stores the audio data collected via the storage unit in association with each other.

  According to the present invention, the imaging apparatus acquires focal length information that is information on the focal length of the photographing lens, changes the directivity of the microphone that collects sound based on the acquired focal length information, and sets the directivity. By storing the audio data collected through the changed microphone and the image data in association with each other, there is an effect that sound can be collected and imaged appropriately according to the distance between the imaging device and the subject. .

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part and signal processing part of FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of step S103 of FIG. It is a table | surface which shows the directivity of the microphone as an example determined by the directivity determination part. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part and signal processing part of an imaging device by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a table | surface as an example which classifies the system of a lens based on a focal distance. It is a table | surface which shows the information which shows the directivity linked | related with imaging | photography mode and focal distance information. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the imaging device by 2nd Embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of an imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A photographing lens 2 is detachably attached to the imaging device 1. Here, the configuration of the imaging lens 2 will be described together with the configuration of the imaging device 1.

  The photographing lens 2 includes a lens unit 21, a diaphragm unit 22, and an AF (autofocus control) unit 23. The lens unit 21 has a plurality of lens groups and receives light from a subject or the like. The diaphragm unit 22 has a plurality of diaphragm blades, and the light received by the lens unit 21 is narrowed by opening and closing the plurality of diaphragm blades. The AF unit 23 controls the lens unit 21 so as to focus on the subject.

  In addition, the photographing lens 2 outputs focal length information, which is information on the focal length of the self-photographing lens 2, to the imaging device 1 through an electrical contact between the self-photographing lens 2 and the imaging device 1. This focal length information is changed together with the zoom when the photographing lens 2 is a zoom lens, for example. For example, the AF unit 23 of the photographic lens 2 outputs focal length information to the imaging device 1.

  The imaging device 1 includes a microphone 11, a shutter unit 12, a sensor unit 13, a signal processing unit 14, a memory card 15, a control unit 16, an operation unit 17, and an acquisition unit 18. . The microphone 11 is built in the imaging device 1 and is, for example, the same surface as the surface on which the photographing lens 2 is attached in the imaging device 1 main body, and the upper part on the side where the imaging device 1 is held with the left hand when operated by a person. Is attached. The microphone 11 can change the directivity of the sound to be collected by being controlled by the control unit 16. For example, the directivity of the microphone 11 is changed to omnidirectional, unidirectional, or superdirective.

  The shutter unit 12 controls the opening and closing of the shutter member, and transmits or blocks the light beam input from the photographing lens 2. The sensor unit 13 converts the light flux from the photographing lens 2 input through the shutter unit 12 into an electrical signal. The sensor unit 13 is, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor.

  The signal processing unit 14 records the electric signal converted by the sensor unit 13 in the memory card 15 as a still image or a moving image. Further, when the electric signal converted by the sensor unit 13 is recorded in the memory card 15 as a still image or a moving image, the signal processing unit 14 associates the still image or moving image with the audio signal collected by the microphone 11 and stores the memory signal. The data is recorded on the card 15. The memory card 15 is a non-volatile storage device such as a flash memory. The memory card 15 may be detachable from the imaging device 1.

  The operation unit 17 includes a plurality of buttons, dials, direction input keys, or a touch panel operated by the user. Here, the operation unit 17 is described as having a release button 171, a shooting mode switching button 172, and a microphone directivity setting button 173.

  The release button 171 outputs a release signal, which is a signal indicating imaging, to the control unit 16 when pressed by the user. The shooting mode switching button 172 is a dial button, for example, and outputs a shooting mode switching signal indicating a shooting mode corresponding to the rotation angle to the control unit 16 when rotated by the user. For example, as described later, the shooting mode switching signal switches the shooting mode such as portrait, landscape, or child. The microphone directivity setting button 173 outputs a microphone directivity setting signal that is information for setting the directivity of the microphone 11 to the control unit 16. For example, three signals indicating directivity, omnidirectionality, superdirectivity, or automatic are output as the microphone directivity setting signal.

  The acquisition unit 18 acquires focal length information, which is information on the focal length of the photographing lens 2, from the photographing lens 2, and outputs the acquired focal length information to the control unit 16. The control unit 16 controls each configuration of the imaging device 1 and the photographing lens 2 in accordance with, for example, each control signal input from the operation unit 17. Further, the control unit 16 changes the directivity of the microphone 11 that collects sound based on the focal length information acquired by the acquisition unit 18. The control unit 16 will be described later.

  Next, an example of the configuration of the signal processing unit 14 and the control unit 16 in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The signal processing unit 14 includes an imaging processing unit 141 and a recording control unit 142. The imaging processing unit 141 performs image processing on the electrical signal converted by the sensor unit 13 and converts it into a still image or a moving image. The sensor unit 13 and the imaging processing unit 141 function as the imaging unit 19. The imaging unit 19 captures an image of the subject via the photographing lens 2 and generates image data.

  The recording control unit 142 associates the image data generated by the imaging unit 19 and the audio data collected via the microphone 11 and stores them in the storage unit. The storage unit is a memory card 15 as an example, but may be a built-in storage unit built in the imaging device 1 (not shown).

  The control unit 16 includes a distance calculation unit 161, a directivity determination unit 162, and a directivity change unit 163. The distance calculation unit 161 calculates the distance to the subject imaged by the imaging unit 19. The distance calculation unit 161 calculates the distance to the subject imaged by the imaging unit 19 based on, for example, the focal length information acquired by the acquisition unit 18 and the AF shift amount. This AF shift amount is input from, for example, an AF sensor (not shown).

  The directivity determining unit 162 determines the directivity of the microphone 11 based on the focal length information acquired by the acquiring unit 18. Alternatively, the directivity determining unit 162 determines the directivity of the microphone 11 based on the distance to the subject calculated by the distance calculating unit 161.

  For example, the directivity determining unit 162 determines the directivity of the microphone 11 to be omnidirectional when the distance to the subject calculated by the distance calculating unit 161 is closer than a predetermined distance based on the acquired focal length information. Decide to be gender. In addition, the directivity determining unit 162 determines the directivity of the microphone 11 when the distance to the subject calculated by the distance calculating unit 161 is not closer than a predetermined distance based on the acquired focal length information. Decide to be unidirectional.

  The directivity determining unit 162 may determine the directivity so that the directivity of the microphone 11 continuously changes in accordance with the distance to the subject calculated by the distance calculating unit 161. The directivity changing unit 163 changes the directivity of the microphone 11 determined by the directivity determining unit 162.

  Next, the operation of the imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In response to pressing of the release button 171, the control unit 16 acquires focal length information from the photographing lens 2 and acquires an AF shift amount via the acquisition unit 18 (step S <b> 101).

  Next, the distance calculation unit 161 of the control unit 16 calculates the distance to the subject based on the acquired focal length information and the AF shift amount (step S102). Next, the directivity determination unit 162 of the control unit 16 determines the directivity of the microphone 11 based on the distance to the subject calculated by the distance calculation unit 161. Next, the directivity changing unit 163 of the control unit 16 changes the directivity of the microphone 11 to the directivity of the microphone 11 determined by the directivity determining unit 162 (step S103).

  Next, the imaging unit 19 acquires image data for one frame of the moving image (step S104). Next, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the imaging is finished (step S105). For example, the control unit 16 determines that the imaging has been completed when the release button 171 is not pressed.

  If it is determined in step S105 that the imaging has been completed, the control unit 16 ends the imaging. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S105 that the imaging has not ended, the control unit 16 determines whether or not there is a change in the acquired focal length information or the AF shift amount (step S106). If there is a change in the acquired focal length information or the AF shift amount, the distance to the subject has changed.

  If it is determined in step S106 that there is no change in the acquired focal length information or the AF shift amount, the control unit 16 repeats the processing from step S104. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S106 that there is a change in the acquired focal length information or the AF shift amount, the control unit 16 repeats the processing from step S101.

  With the operation described above with reference to FIG. 3, the imaging device 1 can capture a moving image by changing the directivity of the microphone in accordance with the change in the focal length information.

  Next, a specific example of the process performed by the directivity determining unit 162 described in step S103 in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that predetermined values of distance d1, distance d2, and distance d3 are stored in the storage unit in advance. It is assumed that the distance d1, the distance d2, and the distance d3 have a magnitude relationship of “distance d1 <distance d2 <distance d3”.

  First, the directivity determining unit 162 compares the distance to the subject calculated by the distance calculating unit 161 (symbol d in FIGS. 4 and 5) and the distance d1 read from the storage unit (step S201). When the distance (d) to the subject calculated in step S201 is smaller than the distance d1, the directivity determining unit 162 determines the directivity of the microphone 11 to be omnidirectional, and the directivity changing unit 163 is directed to the directivity. The directivity of the microphone 11 is changed to the non-directivity determined by the sex determination unit 162 (step S204).

  As in the case of the distance d1, the directivity determining unit 162 sequentially compares the distance (d) to the subject calculated by the distance calculating unit 161 with the distance d2 and the distance d3 (see step S202 and step S203). . And the directivity determination part 162 determines the directivity of the microphone 11 to the directivity predetermined with respect to the conditions, when the conditions are satisfied. Next, the directivity changing unit 163 changes the directivity of the microphone 11 to the directivity determined by the directivity determining unit 162 (see steps S205 to S207).

  By the operation of FIG. 4 described above, the directivity determining unit 162 determines the directivity of the microphone 11 as shown in FIG. For example, the directivity determining unit 162 determines the directivity of the microphone 11 to be omnidirectional when the distance (d) to the subject is d <d1. Similarly, the directivity determining unit 162 sets the microphone as unidirectional when d1 ≦ d <d2, superdirectivity when d2 ≦ d <d3, and superdirectivity when d3 ≦ d. 11 directivities are determined.

  The imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 acquires focal length information that is information on the focal length of the photographing lens, and collects sound based on the acquired focal length information. The directivity of the microphone to be changed is changed, and the sound data collected through the microphone having the changed directivity and the image data are stored in association with each other. Thus, there is an effect that sound can be collected and imaged appropriately according to the distance between the imaging device and the subject.

  Note that the control unit 16 may change the directivity of the microphone 11 at the start of the photographing process and maintain the changed directivity during the photographing process. When the photographing lens 2 is a zoom lens, the control unit 16 may change the directivity of the microphone 11 according to the focal length of the photographing lens 2 changed by the zoom operation of the photographing lens 2. Further, the control unit 16 changes the directivity of the microphone 11 according to the focal length of the photographing lens 2 changed by the zoom operation after the zoom operation of the photographing lens 2 is completed and a predetermined time elapses. May be.

  For example, if the directivity of the microphone 11 is frequently changed, it may be difficult to hear the sound collected by the microphone 11. On the other hand, since the control unit 16 does not immediately change the directivity of the microphone 11 according to the change of the focal length as described above, the directivity of the microphone 11 is not frequently changed. It is possible to reduce the difficulty in hearing the sound collected by the microphone 11.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, the configuration of the imaging apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the same components as those in FIG. 1 or FIG.

  The control unit 16 further includes a shooting mode setting unit 164 for setting any one of a plurality of shooting modes, and information indicating the directivity of the microphone 11 in advance in association with the combination of the focal length information and the shooting mode. A stored mode information storage unit 165. The shooting mode setting unit 164 selects and sets one of a plurality of shooting modes by the shooting mode switching button 172 of the operation unit 17.

  The directivity determining unit 162 of the control unit 16 changes the directivity of the microphone 11 based on the combination of the acquired focal length information and the shooting mode set in the shooting mode setting unit 164. Specifically, the directivity determining unit 162 of the control unit 16 stores mode information information indicating the directivity of the microphone 11 corresponding to the combination of the acquired focal length information and the shooting mode set by the shooting mode setting unit 164. The directivity of the microphone 11 is determined by reading from the unit 165.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the photographing lens 2 is divided into a wide system, a standard system, a telephoto system, and a super telephoto system based on the focal length of the photographing lens 2. Then, the directivity of the microphone 11 is determined from a predetermined table as shown in FIG. 8 according to the section of the focal length of the photographing lens 2 and the set photographing mode. The information shown in this table is information indicating the directivity of the microphone 11 as an example stored in the mode information storage unit 165 in association with the combination of the focal length information and the shooting mode.

  Next, the operation of the imaging apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In response to pressing of the release button 171, the directivity determination unit 162 of the control unit 16 directs the directivity of the microphone 11 corresponding to the combination of the acquired focal length information and the shooting mode set by the shooting mode setting unit 164. Is read from the mode information storage unit 165, and information indicating the directivity of the microphone 11 is acquired (step S301). Next, the directivity changing unit 163 of the control unit 16 changes to the directivity of the microphone 11 based on the information indicating the directivity of the microphone 11 acquired by the directivity determining unit 162 (step S302).

  Next, the imaging unit 19 acquires image data for one frame of the moving image (step S303). Next, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the imaging is finished (step S304). If it is determined in step S304 that the imaging has been completed, the control unit 16 ends the imaging. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S304 that the imaging has not ended, the control unit 16 repeats the processing from step S303.

  According to the imaging device 1 according to the second embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, the directivity of the microphone is changed based not only on the focal length information acquired from the photographing lens but also on the photographing mode, Audio data collected through a microphone whose directivity has been changed and image data are stored in association with each other. Thus, there is an effect that sound can be collected and imaged appropriately according to the distance between the imaging device and the subject.

  Note that the control unit 16 may change the directivity of the microphone 11 in accordance with an input from the microphone directivity setting button 173 manually operated by the user. Further, the control unit 16 selects a method for determining the directivity of the microphone 11 from the method according to the first embodiment or the method according to the second embodiment by the microphone directivity setting button 173 manually operated by the user. You may make it decide. As a method for determining the directivity of the microphone 11, the method according to the first embodiment and the method according to the second embodiment may be combined. Specifically, for example, the distance calculation unit 161 of the first embodiment calculates “wide”, “standard”, “telephoto”, and “super telephoto” in the zoom lens column of FIG. 8 of the second embodiment. The relationship between the distance (d) to the subject and “d1, d2, d3” is replaced. More specifically, “wide” is “d <d1”, “standard” is “d1 ≦ d <d2”, “telephoto” is “d2 ≦ d <d3”, and super-directivity is “d3 ≦ d”. May be replaced respectively.

  In the description of the above embodiment, the case where the photographing lens 2 is detachably attached to the imaging apparatus 1 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Even when the imaging device 1 and the photographing lens 2 are integrally configured, the above-described embodiment can be applied. In the above description of the embodiment, the imaging apparatus 1 is described as having a built-in microphone. However, the microphone may be externally attached to the imaging apparatus 1. For example, a microphone may be externally attached to the imaging device 1 via a guide member attached to the imaging device 1.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design and the like within a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Imaging device, 2 ... Shooting lens, 15 ... Memory card, 16 ... Control part, 18 ... Acquisition part, 19 ... Imaging part, 142 ... Recording control part, 161 ... Distance calculation part, 162 ... Directivity determination part, 163 ... Directivity changing unit, 164 ... shooting mode setting unit, 165 ... mode information storage unit

Claims (10)

An acquisition unit that acquires focal length information that is information on the focal length of the photographing lens;
An imaging unit that captures an image of a subject through the photographing lens and generates image data;
Based on the focal length information acquired by the acquisition unit, a control unit that changes the directivity of a microphone that collects sound;
A recording control unit that associates and stores the image data and audio data collected via the microphone in a storage unit;
An imaging device comprising: The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
A shooting mode setting section for setting one of a plurality of shooting modes;
Further comprising
The controller is
Changing the directivity of the microphone based on a combination of the acquired focal length information and the shooting mode set by the shooting mode setting unit;
An imaging apparatus characterized by that. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2,
A mode information storage unit in which information indicating the directivity of the microphone is stored in advance in association with the combination of the focal length information and the shooting mode;
Further comprising
The controller is
Information indicating the directivity of the microphone corresponding to the combination of the acquired focal length information and the shooting mode set by the shooting mode setting unit is read from the mode information storage unit, and the information indicating the read directivity of the microphone Changing the directivity of the microphone based on
An imaging apparatus characterized by that. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The controller is
A directivity determining unit that determines the directivity of the microphone based on the acquired focal length information;
A directivity changing unit that changes the directivity of the microphone to the directivity of the microphone determined by the directivity determining unit;
An imaging device comprising: The imaging apparatus according to claim 4,
The controller is
A distance calculating unit that calculates a distance to a subject to be imaged by the imaging unit;
Further comprising
The directivity determining unit
Determining the directivity of the microphone based on the distance to the subject calculated by the distance calculation unit;
An imaging apparatus characterized by that. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5,
The directivity determining unit
When the distance to the subject calculated by the distance calculation unit is closer than a predetermined distance based on the acquired focal length information, the directivity of the microphone is determined to be omnidirectional. ,
When the distance to the subject calculated by the distance calculation unit is not closer than a predetermined distance based on the acquired focal length information, the directivity of the microphone is made unidirectional. decide,
An imaging apparatus characterized by that. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6,
The directivity determining unit
Determining the directivity of the microphone so that the directivity of the microphone continuously changes corresponding to the distance to the subject calculated by the distance calculation unit;
An imaging apparatus characterized by that. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The controller is
Changing the directivity of the microphone at the start of the shooting process, and maintaining the changed directivity of the microphone during the shooting process;
An imaging apparatus characterized by that. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The taking lens is a zoom lens;
The controller is
Changing the directivity of the microphone according to the focal length of the photographic lens changed by the zoom operation of the photographic lens;
An imaging apparatus characterized by that. The imaging device according to claim 9,
The controller is
After the zoom operation of the photographing lens is completed and a predetermined time has elapsed, the directivity of the microphone is changed according to the focal length of the photographing lens changed by the zoom operation.
An imaging apparatus characterized by that.