JP2010266835A - Autofocus system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an autofocus system, capable of setting an AF frame at a desired position readily and quickly, by carrying out the positioning of an AF frame showing the range into which the target subject is brought into focus by auto focus (AF), with the operation of a touch pad provided at a lens controller. <P>SOLUTION: At a focus demand 26 mainly carrying out the focus operation of the lens device, the touch pad 80 is provided at the position of a body part 70 where it can be operated by a thumb, in a state of a focus knob 30 being held. When a desired position of the touch pad 80 is tap-operated, an AF frame is set at the position corresponding to that desired position on the photographing screen. Also, the shape of the detection face 80a of the touch pad 80 has a figure similar to the screen of a viewfinder 36. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an autofocus system, and more particularly to an autofocus system that can change the position of an AF frame (AF area) that is a range to be focused by autofocus (AF).

  In an imaging system that converts an image of a subject into an electrical signal (image signal) using an imaging device (CCD or the like) like a television camera, a contrast method is generally employed as an autofocus (hereinafter referred to as AF) method. . The contrast method is a method of automatically focusing to the best focus state by detecting the contrast of the subject image from the image signal captured by the image sensor and controlling the focus of the photographic lens so that the contrast becomes the highest. is there.

  With AF such as the contrast method, the entire subject within the shooting field angle range of the camera is not targeted for focusing by AF, but only the subject within a part of the shooting field angle range is targeted. And often. In contrast-type AF, an image signal in a range to be focused by AF is extracted from image signals captured by the entire imaging area of the image sensor, and focus is performed so that the contrast of the image signal in the extracted range is the highest. By controlling this, the object to be focused by AF is limited to only a certain range of subjects. In this specification, the subject range to be focused by AF within the shooting field angle range of the camera or the subject range on the screen to be focused by AF among the screen range of the captured image of the camera is AF. It is referred to as an area, and a frame indicating the outline of the AF area is referred to as an AF frame.

  Conventionally, it is known that the position, size, and shape (aspect ratio) of the AF frame can be changed by the operation of the operator. For changing the position of the AF frame, an operation device such as a trackball or a joystick is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Also, a technique for operating an AF frame with a touch pad provided on a side surface of a lens barrel in an autofocus device is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-365519 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-173980

  By the way, when the position of the AF frame is changed with a trackball or a joystick, only an operation for instructing the moving direction and moving speed or displacement from the current position can be performed. Therefore, the AF frame is set at a desired position. It was difficult and time consuming.

  In addition, when operating the AF frame with the touch pad, it is difficult to understand the correspondence between the position where the touch pad is touched and the position in the AF frame in the viewfinder where the captured image is displayed, and the AF frame is set at a desired position. However, it was difficult and time consuming.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an autofocus system capable of easily and quickly setting an AF frame to a desired position.

  In order to achieve the object, an autofocus system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by an optical system, and a predetermined AF in an imaging range in which the subject image is captured by the imaging unit. An autofocus means for adjusting the focus of the optical system so that a subject in the frame is in focus; an AF frame position operating means for an operator to indicate the position of the AF frame within the imaging range; and the AF In an autofocus system comprising AF frame control means for setting the AF frame at a position instructed by the frame position operation means, the AF frame position operation means is a touch pad, and the AF frame control means is the touch frame. The detection surface of the pad is associated with the imaging range, and the position of the imaging range corresponding to the touched position on the detection surface of the touchpad The AF frame is set, and the shape of the detection surface of the touchpad is similar to the shape of the screen of the display device displayed by superimposing the AF frame on the image captured by the imaging means It is characterized by.

  In the autofocus system according to claim 2, the AF frame control means associates the detection surface of the touchpad with the imaging range, and the position of the imaging range corresponding to the position touched on the detection surface of the touchpad. And a second operation for displacing the AF frame from the current position in a direction and a displacement corresponding to the operation direction and the operation amount of the drag operation on the detection surface of the touchpad. The feature is that the mode can be switched.

  The autofocus system according to a third aspect is characterized in that a projection is provided in or around the detection surface of the touchpad.

  The autofocus system according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that the touch pad is provided in the lens controller.

  According to the present invention, the AF frame can be easily and quickly set at a desired position.

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of a television camera system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the autofocus system according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the imaging range of the image sensor and the AF frame. FIG. 4 is an external view of the focus demand. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram used for explaining the operation method of the touchpad. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example in which protrusions are provided in or around the detection surface of the touchpad. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the position of the touch pad when the AF frame operation unit is provided with the touch pad. FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the position of the touch pad when the touch pad is provided on the zoom demand. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the position of the touch pad when the ENG camera system is provided with a touch pad.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out an autofocus system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of a television camera system to which the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, a television camera 10 is a television camera mainly used for broadcasting or business use. The television camera 10 includes a lens device 12 and a camera body 14 and is mounted on a pedestal stand 16. It is supported by.

The pan head 18 is extended with two left and right bread bars 22 and 24, and a focus demand (focus controller) 26 is installed on the grip part 22 </ b> A of the right bread bar 22 with a mounting clamp 38, and the left side A zoom demand (zoom controller) 28 is installed in the grip portion of the pan bar 24.

  The focus demand 26 is provided with a rotatable focus knob 30. When focus control is performed by manual focus (MF), when the focus knob 30 is rotated, a focus corresponding to the rotation position is obtained. A focus control signal for instructing movement of the focus (focus lens group) with the position as a target position is given from the focus demand 26 to the lens device 12. Thereby, the focus lens group of the lens device 12 is moved to the target position commanded by the focus control signal.

  The zoom demand 28 is provided with a rotatable thumb ring 34. When the thumb ring 34 is rotated in the left-right direction, the zoom (zoom lens group) is moved with a zoom speed corresponding to the rotation position as a target speed. Is supplied from the zoom demand 28 to the lens device 12. Thereby, the zoom lens group of the lens device 12 moves at the target speed commanded by the zoom control signal.

  Although not shown in the figure, the focus demand 26 is provided with various operation means related to autofocus (AF), and controls an AF frame indicating a subject range (target range of AF) to be focused by AF. An AF frame control device for performing (change of position and the like) is incorporated, and various operation members of the AF frame control device are also provided in the focus demand 26.

  A viewfinder 36 that is a display device is installed on the camera body 14. Since the viewfinder 36 displays an image of the subject photographed by the television camera 10, the cameraman operates the focus demand 26 and the zoom demand 28 while viewing the image, thereby selecting the subject with a desired composition. You can shoot.

  In addition, an AF frame image (frame image) indicating the currently set AF frame range (position, size, shape (aspect ratio)) is superimposed on the captured image displayed on the viewfinder 36 and displayed. When focus control is performed by AF, it is possible to know which range of subjects in the captured image can be focused. The focus control of MF and AF can be switched by a mode switch or the like provided in the focus demand 26.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an autofocus system applied to the television camera system. In the figure, the lens device 12, the camera body 14, the focus demand 26, and the viewfinder 36 shown in FIG. 1 are shown. The camera body 14 is equipped with an image sensor (for example, a CCD), a required signal processing circuit, and the like, and an image formed by the photographing lens (optical system) of the lens device 12 is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor. Thereafter, required signal processing is performed by the signal processing circuit. A video signal of a predetermined format generated by the signal processing circuit is output to an external device from a video signal output terminal or the like of the camera body 14.

  Further, the viewfinder 36 is provided with a video signal from the camera body 14, and a real-time image (video) captured by the camera body 14 is displayed on the screen of the viewfinder 36. In addition, information such as an AF frame indicating a target range to be focused by autofocus (AF) is also displayed on the screen of the viewfinder 36.

The lens device 12 includes a photographing lens (optical system) (not shown) attached to a lens mount of the camera body 14, and an image of a subject is formed on the imaging surface of the imaging element of the camera body 14 by the photographing lens. . The photographing lens is provided with movable parts for adjusting photographing conditions such as a focus lens group, a zoom lens group, and a diaphragm as its constituent parts. These movable parts are electrically driven by a motor (servo mechanism) (not shown). It is designed to be driven. For example, the focus lens group and zoom lens group move in the optical axis direction, and the focus (subject distance) adjustment is performed by moving the focus lens group, and the focal length (zoom magnification) adjustment is performed by moving the zoom lens group. Is done. In the system relating to autofocus as in the present embodiment, it is sufficient that at least the focus lens group can be driven electrically, and other movable parts may be driven only manually.

  As shown in the figure, the lens device 12 is equipped with a lens CPU 50 that performs overall control of the entire lens device 12, an AF processing unit 52 that executes AF processing, an AF imaging circuit 54, and the like.

  The AF imaging circuit 54 is disposed in the lens device 12 to acquire an AF processing video signal, and outputs an imaging device (such as a CCD) or an output signal of the imaging device as a predetermined format video signal. Etc. The image pickup element of the AF image pickup circuit 54 is referred to as an AF image pickup element. The video signal output from the AF imaging circuit 54 is a luminance signal.

  On the imaging surface of the AF imaging element, subject light branched from subject light incident on the imaging element of the camera body 14 is imaged by a half mirror or the like disposed on the optical path of the photographing lens. The shooting field angle range and subject distance (distance of the subject in focus) with respect to the imaging surface of the AF imaging element are configured to match the shooting field angle range and subject distance with respect to the imaging surface of the imaging element of the camera body 14. The subject image captured by the AF image sensor matches the subject image captured by the image sensor of the camera body 14. It should be noted that the shooting field angle ranges of the two do not need to be completely the same. For example, the shooting field angle range of the AF image sensor includes a larger range including the shooting field angle range of the image sensor of the camera body 14. It may be. In addition, a video signal acquired by the image sensor of the camera body 14 may be provided to the AF processing unit 52 without providing an AF image sensor.

  The AF processing unit 52 acquires a video signal from the AF imaging circuit 54 and calculates a focus evaluation value indicating the level of contrast of the subject image based on the video signal. For example, after extracting a high-frequency component signal of a video signal obtained from an AF image sensor using a high-pass filter, an AF area indicating a subject range to be focused by AF among the high-frequency component signal The signals in the range corresponding to (AF frame range) are integrated (added) for each screen. The integrated value obtained for each screen in this way indicates the level of contrast of the subject image, and is given to the lens CPU 50 as a focus evaluation value.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the AF frame is set as a frame 102 indicating a quadrangular range within the imaging range 100 in which the subject image is captured by the imaging element (or AF imaging element) of the camera body 14. .

As will be described in detail later, the lens CPU 50 acquires information (AF frame information) indicating the range of the AF frame from the focus demand 26, and designates the AF frame range designated by the AF frame information to the AF processing unit 52. . Then, the focus evaluation value obtained from the image (video signal) within the range of the AF frame is acquired from the AF processing unit 52, and the acquired focus evaluation value is the maximum (maximum), that is, the subject within the range of the AF frame. The focus lens group is controlled so that the contrast of the image is maximized. For example, the hill-climbing method is generally known as a control method for the focus lens group based on the focus evaluation value, and the focus evaluation value starts to decrease as the focus lens group is moved in the direction in which the focus evaluation value increases. Is detected, the focus lens group is set at that position. As a result, the subject within the AF frame is automatically focused.

  The focus demand 26 incorporates an AF frame control device for controlling the AF frame, and a CPU 60 for performing various arithmetic processes. The CPU 60 can exchange various information with the lens CPU 50 of the lens device 12 by serial communication or the like.

  The focus demand 26 is provided with an AF frame operation means for an operator to manually specify an AF frame range whose elements are position, size, and shape (aspect ratio). The AF frame operation means When the operation is performed, the CPU 60 sets the range of the AF frame in accordance with the operation, and transmits AF frame information indicating the range of the AF frame to the lens CPU 50 of the lens device 12. The AF frame operation means will be described later.

  On the other hand, the focus demand 26 has an AF frame automatic tracking function for automatically changing the range of the AF frame by following the movement of the tracking target subject while tracking the tracking target subject specified by the operator on the screen. It is installed. In a state in which the AF frame automatic tracking function is operating effectively, the CPU 60 automatically sets the AF frame range by the AF frame automatic tracking function, and sets AF frame information indicating the AF frame range to the lens device 12. To the lens CPU 50.

  For example, the focus demand 26 is provided with a switch (not shown) for turning on / off the AF frame automatic tracking by the AF frame automatic tracking function, and when the AF frame automatic tracking is turned off by the switch, The range of the AF frame is changed only by the operation of the AF frame operation means by the operator. In addition, even when the AF frame automatic tracking is on, if the operator operates the AF frame operation means, the operation has priority over the AF frame automatic tracking function, and the AF operation is performed according to the operator's operation. The range of the frame is changed.

  Further, the CPU 60 transmits the AF frame information transmitted to the lens CPU 50 as described above to the camera main body 14, and superimposes the image (frame image) of the AF frame on the captured video by processing in the camera main body 14. It is displayed at a corresponding position on 36 screens. Thus, the operator can recognize the currently set AF frame range while looking at the viewfinder 36. The AF frame information for the camera main body 14 may be sent from the lens CPU 50 to the camera main body 14, or the video signal of the captured video to be displayed on the viewfinder 36 is taken into the focus demand 26, and the AF within the focus demand 26 A video signal in which the image of the frame is superimposed on the captured video may be generated, and the video signal may be output from the focus demand 26 to the viewfinder 36.

  The AF frame automatic tracking function by the AF frame control device incorporated in the focus demand 26 is performed by the CPU 60, the image processing unit 62, and the image input unit 64 shown in FIG. The image input unit 64 acquires the video signal (luminance signal) obtained by the AF imaging circuit 54 via the AF processing unit 52 and captures the video signal obtained from the video signal in response to a request from the image processing unit 622. The image data of the image is given to the image processing unit 62.

  Based on the image data acquired from the image input unit 64, the image processing unit 62 detects the image range of the tracking target subject designated by the operator from the captured image.

  The CPU 60 sets the image range of the tracking target subject detected by the image processing unit 62 as the AF frame range (position, size, shape). As a result, the subject to be tracked is tracked on the shooting screen, and the AF frame range is changed following the subject. Here, the subject to be tracked is, for example, a subject to be tracked by operating an AF frame operation means (to be described later) while looking at the captured image and AF frame displayed on the screen of the viewfinder 36 (focused by AF). The subject can be designated by stopping the operation of the AF frame operation means in such a state that the whole or part of the subject to be matched is within the range of the AF frame. That is, after the operation of the AF frame operation means, an image within the range of the AF frame when the AF frame automatic tracking is started is recognized as a subject image to be tracked.

  The processing for detecting the subject to be tracked in the image processing unit 62 is performed by, for example, a known pattern matching processing method. In this case, as described above, the image within the range of the AF frame when the operation of the AF frame operation unit is stopped is stored as a reference pattern indicating the subject image to be tracked. Thereafter, an image range that matches the image of the reference pattern is detected from the captured image captured via the image input unit 64 by pattern matching processing.

  The AF frame automatic tracking method may be any method, and the method for specifying the subject to be tracked and the method for tracking the subject are not limited to the above case.

  Next, AF frame operation means in the focus demand 26 will be described. As shown in the external view of the focus demand 26 in FIG. 4, the main body 70 of the focus demand 26 is provided with a touch pad 80, a size knob 82, and a shape knob 84 as AF frame operation means. Then, state signals indicating the states of the touch pad 80, the size knob 82, and the shape knob 84 are read by the CPU 60 as shown in FIG. The CPU 60 sets the size of the AF frame based on the status signal of the size knob 82, and sets the shape (aspect ratio) of the AF frame based on the status signal of the shape knob 84. That is, the operator can set the AF frame to a desired size by operating the size knob 82, and can set the AF frame to a desired aspect ratio by operating the shape knob 84. .

  On the other hand, the touch pad 80 operates a pointer by touching a flat sensor (detection surface) with a finger or the like. The state signal of the touch pad 80 is given to the CPU 60 via the controller 90, and the position (the surface where the touch operation is detected) of the touch pad 80 is touched with a finger or the like as the state signal (the touch operation is detected). The coordinate value indicating the touch position is given to the CPU 60. There are various types of touchpads such as an electromagnetic type and a capacitance type, but the touchpad 80 is not limited to a specific type.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the coordinates of each point in the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 are represented by XY coordinates, and the coordinates of each point in the imaging range of the imaging device of the camera body 14 are represented by XY coordinates. Then, arbitrary coordinate points in the entire imaging range 100 correspond to coordinate points in the entire detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 or a partial range in a one-to-one relationship between the X coordinates and the Y coordinates. It is attached. In the figure, a case where the entire imaging range 100 and the entire detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 are associated with each other is illustrated.

  When a coordinate value (x0, y0) indicating the touch position is given from the controller 90 when any position on the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 is touched (tap operation), the CPU 60 determines the touch position. The position of the AF frame 102 is set so that the coordinate value (x0 ′, y0 ′) of the imaging range 100 associated with the coordinate value (x0, y0) is the center position of the AF frame 102.

  According to this, it is assumed that the operator touches the detection surface 80A on the assumption that the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 indicates the imaging range 100, so that the AF frame 102 can be easily and quickly placed at a desired position in the imaging range 100. Can be set.

  If the operation mode for setting the AF frame 102 at the position of the imaging range 100 corresponding to the touch position of the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 is the absolute value mode, the relative operation method is different from the absolute value mode. The value mode may be switched with a predetermined switch. In the relative value mode, the AF frame is displaced from the current position in accordance with the operation direction and the operation amount (distance) of the drag operation by dragging the finger up / down / left / right while keeping the finger on the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80. Operation mode. In this relative value mode, the CPU 60 uses the coordinate value (initial coordinate value) of the touch position first touched on the detection surface 80 </ b> A of the touch pad 80 as the coordinate of the center position of the AF frame 102 currently set in the imaging range 100. The value (initial coordinate value) is made to correspond. After that, when the drag operation is performed and the coordinate value of the touch position on the detection surface 80A continuously changes, the center of the AF frame corresponds to the coordinate value changed from the initial coordinate value. The coordinate value of the position is displaced from the initial coordinate value. According to this, the operator may perform a drag operation on the detection surface 80 </ b> A of the touch pad 80 for the operation direction and the operation amount that the AF frame 102 is desired to change from the current position.

  In addition, an area excluding a part of the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80, for example, an area excluding the right-side and lower-side belt-like areas is used as an operation surface for operating in the absolute value mode, and other than the operation surface These areas, for example, the right side and the lower side band-like areas may be used as the operation surface for performing the operation in the relative value mode, and both operation methods may be used without switching the operation mode.

  Further, not only the position of the AF frame can be changed by operating the touch pad 80, but the size and shape of the AF frame can also be changed by a predetermined operation on the touch pad 80. In this case, the size knobs 82 and 84 can be eliminated. For example, an operation for specifying the size or shape of the AF frame is performed by dragging the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 with two fingers to widen (pinch out) or narrow (pinch in) the distance between the two fingers. Can be applied to. That is, the AF frame range (the center position is fixed) may be enlarged or reduced by an amount corresponding to the operation direction and operation amount of the focus-out operation or the pinch-in operation.

  In addition, when the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 is double-tapped at an arbitrary position, the AF frame automatic tracking can be started.

  The touch pad 80 as described above is installed on the main body 70 of the focus demand 26 with the X direction (corresponding to the horizontal direction of the imaging range 100) in the horizontal direction (horizontal direction) as shown in FIG. According to this, the operator (cameraman) performs shooting while holding the focus knob 30 with the right hand as a general shooting style, but uses the thumb of the right hand, for example, while holding the focus knob 30 with the right hand. By operating the touch pad 80, the position of the AF frame can be changed to a desired position.

  Further, the touch pad 80 may be provided at another position as long as the touch pad 80 can be easily operated while the focus knob 30 is held or the focus demand 26 is touched. As another example of the position, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 4, it may be provided on the surface of the main body 70 on which the focus knob 30 is disposed. At this time, the X direction of the touch pad 80 may be the horizontal direction (horizontal direction), but even if it is the vertical direction (vertical direction), there is no sense of incongruity.

  In addition, the shape of the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 is similar to the shape of the screen of the viewfinder 36. For example, the aspect ratio of the screen of the viewfinder 36 and the aspect ratio of the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 may be set to be the same, for example, horizontal: vertical = 16: 9 or horizontal: vertical = 4: 3. It is done.

  Thereby, the correspondence between the position on the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 and the position on the screen of the viewfinder 36 is easy to understand, and the cameraman can quickly place the AF frame at a desired position while looking at the screen of the viewfinder 36.

  Further, a mark such as a protrusion is provided in or around the detection surface 80a of the touch pad 80 so that the cameraman can predict the position of the AF frame without looking at the detection surface 80a of the touch pad 80. Good. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, it is conceivable that convex portions 80 b are provided at the corners of the four corners of the touch pad 80. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, it is also conceivable that any one side 80c of the touch pad 80 is protruded in a convex shape as compared with the other sides.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6C, it is conceivable that convex portions 80d are provided at four locations in the detection surface 80a that are separated from the four corners of the touch pad 80 by a certain distance. FIG. 6C shows an example in which convex portions 80d are provided at four points in the detection surface 80a at a distance of 1/4 of each side from the four corners of the detection surface 80a. In addition, not only four places in the detection surface 80a but the convex part 80d may be provided in several places, such as two places, three places, five places, or more.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6D, it is also conceivable that a convex portion 80e is provided in the center of the detection surface 80a of the touch pad 80.

  Thus, by providing a mark such as a protrusion in or around the detection surface 80a of the touch pad 80, a position where the protrusion is touched in the detection surface 80a of the touch pad 80 with the protrusion as a mark. Can be recognized. Therefore, even if the cameraman operates by looking at the screen of the viewfinder 36 without looking at the detection surface 80a of the touch pad 80, the AF frame can be set at a position desired by the cameraman. In particular, when the operation mode for setting the AF frame is the absolute value mode, the correspondence between the position on the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 and the position on the screen of the viewfinder 36 is easy to understand and effective.

  Further, as another aspect of the focus demand 26 in which the AF frame control device is incorporated, there is a case where an AF frame operation unit 150 having an external shape as shown in FIG. 7 is used. This AF frame operation unit 150 is provided with an operation member for operating the position, size and shape of the AF frame and a focus operation member for manually operating the focus on the main body 152 of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. There are knob type and grip type depending on the type of operation member. In the case of the knob type, a focus knob 154 similar to the focus demand 26 is provided on the side surface of the main body 152 as shown in the figure. In the case of the grip type, a rotatable grip 156 is provided on the front of the main body 152. It has been. In the case of the grip type, the focus position can be changed by rotating the grip 156 with a hand holding the grip 156. In addition, although either the focus knob 154 or the grip 156 is provided in the main-body part 152, both are shown collectively in the same figure.

  In such an AF frame operation unit 150, the touch pad 80 is preferably arranged at a position where the touch pad 80 can be operated while performing a focus operation with the focus knob 154 or the grip 156. It is preferable to be provided at a position 158 above the focus knob 154 on the side surface on which the knob 154 is provided (or a peripheral portion of the focus knob 154 other than the upper side). In the case of the grip type, for example, it is preferable to provide the touch pad 80 at a position 180 (an inclined surface connecting the front surface and the upper surface where the grip 156 is provided) close to the position where the grip 156 is provided in the main body 152.

  Also in such an AF frame operation unit 150, the shape of the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 is similar to the shape of the screen of the viewfinder 36 as described above. Further, as shown in FIG. 6 described above, marks such as protrusions may be provided in or around the detection surface 80a of the touch pad 80.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the AF frame control device is incorporated in the focus demand 26 has been described, but at least the touch pad 80 among the components of the AF frame control device is provided on the zoom demand 28 shown in FIG. The touch pad 80 may be provided at a position where it can be operated with the thumb of the left hand holding the grip as shown by the broken line in FIG. You may make it provide the touchpad 80 in the position which can be operated with an index finger.

  In particular, when an AF frame operating device is incorporated in the zoom demand 28, an AF frame such as a trackball for operating the position of the AF frame at a position 202 on the upper surface of the main body 200 of the zoom demand 28 as shown in FIG. Since the position operation member is provided, in such a case, the touch pad 80 is provided at the position 204 on the left side surface of the main body 200, and the touch pad 80 can be operated with the index finger while operating the thumb ring 34 with the thumb of the left hand. It is preferable to do so. However, unlike FIG. 1, when the zoom demand 28 is installed at a position to be operated with the right hand and the thumb ring 34 is operated with the thumb of the right hand, the main body 200 is configured so that the touch pad 80 can be operated with the index finger of the right hand. It is preferable to be provided on the right side surface. Further, a touch pad 80 may be provided at a position 202 on the upper surface where an AF frame position operation member such as a trackball is provided instead of the AF frame position operation member such as a trackball shown in FIG.

  That is, the touch pad 80 is operated by a predetermined finger of a hand that is operated while manually operating the focus or zoom in an operation device (lens controller) for a cameraman to manually operate the focus and zoom of the lens device 12. It is preferable to provide it at a position where it can be operated, or at a position where it can be switched and operated instantaneously from manual operation of focus and zoom.

  Even when the touch pad 80 is provided on the zoom demand 28 as described above, the shape of the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 is similar to the shape of the screen of the viewfinder 36 as described above. Further, as shown in FIG. 6 described above, marks such as protrusions may be provided in or around the detection surface 80a of the touch pad 80.

1 is not a television camera system using an operation device such as the focus demand 26 (AF frame operation unit 150) or the zoom demand 28 as shown in FIG. In a television camera system (ENG camera) for shooting, an optical system is provided, and a drive unit 254 is installed on the side of the lens barrel of the lens device 250 mounted on the camera body 252. Focus, zoom, and the like are driven electrically, or when an operation ring provided on the lens barrel is manually rotated, the focus, zoom, and the like are driven by the manual force. In such a TV camera system, usually, the camera body 252 is held with the right shoulder, the drive unit 254 is gripped with the right hand, and the operation of the drive unit 254 is performed with each finger of the right hand. It is preferable to provide the touch pad 80 at a position where it can be operated with a left hand that is relatively rarely used. For example, as shown in the figure, it is preferable to provide a touch pad 80 at a position 260 on the left side of the components (lens barrel, accessory device, etc.) constituting the lens device 250 when viewed from the cameraman holding the camera body 252 on the right shoulder. It is. Further, it may be provided on the left side surface of the camera body 252.

  Even when the touch pad 80 is provided in the ENG camera as described above, the shape of the detection surface 80A of the touch pad 80 is similar to the shape of the screen of the viewfinder 36 as described above. Further, as shown in FIG. 6 described above, marks such as protrusions may be provided in or around the detection surface 80a of the touch pad 80.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Television camera, 12 ... Lens apparatus, 14 ... Camera body, 26 ... Focus demand, 28 ... Zoom demand, 50 ... Lens CPU, 52 ... AF processing part, 54 ... Imaging circuit for AF, 60 ... CPU, 62 ... Image Processing unit 64 ... Image input unit 80 ... Touch pad 82 ... Size knob 84 ... Shape knob 100 ... Imaging range 102 ... AF frame

Claims (4)

An imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by the optical system, and a focus adjustment of the optical system so that the subject within a predetermined AF frame is in focus within an imaging range in which the subject image is captured by the imaging unit. Auto-focus means, AF frame position operating means for an operator to indicate the position of the AF frame within the imaging range, and AF frame for setting the AF frame at the position specified by the AF frame position operating means In an autofocus system equipped with a control means,
The AF frame position operating means is a touch pad,
The AF frame control means associates the detection surface of the touchpad with the imaging range, sets the AF frame at the position of the imaging range corresponding to the position touched on the detection surface of the touchpad,
The shape of the detection surface of the touchpad is similar to the shape of the screen of the display device displayed by superimposing the AF frame on the image captured by the imaging unit,
Autofocus system characterized by The AF frame control means associates a detection surface of the touchpad with the imaging range, and sets the AF frame at a position of the imaging range corresponding to a position touched on the detection surface of the touchpad. Operation mode,
A second operation mode for displacing the AF frame from a current position in a direction and a displacement corresponding to an operation direction and an operation amount of a drag operation on the detection surface of the touchpad;
Has been made switchable,
The autofocus system according to claim 1. Protrusions are provided in or around the detection surface of the touchpad,
The autofocus system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The touchpad is provided in a lens controller for performing an operation related to focusing or zooming of the optical system;
The autofocus system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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