JP2011128266A - Photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problem: a photographing device is not user-friendly, because the photographing device must be left as it is without being operated for a fixed time till a state of a standby mode is achieved even if a user wants to set the standby mode immediately after finishing photography in the conventional manner. <P>SOLUTION: When specified operation input for half-depressing the shutter button twice quickly is performed to a shutter button provided in a digital camera, and a result of discrimination in S2 is "YES", the digital camera is shifted in S4 by a CPU from an ordinary operation mode in which power is supplied to parts required for photographing operation through a channel of a DC power supply circuit to a low power consumption mode in which power is supplied to parts always requiring the operation therethrough. Therefore, when the user wants to shift the digital camera 1 to the low power consumption mode, he/she can shift it in desired optional timing by performing the specified operation input to the shutter button 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that shifts from a normal operation mode in which power is supplied to a location required for a shooting operation to a low power consumption mode in which power is supplied to a location that requires constant operation.

  Conventionally, as this type of photographing apparatus, for example, there is an electronic camera disclosed in Patent Document 1. This electronic camera includes a control unit that switches between a normal shooting mode for performing normal shooting and a standby mode for reducing power consumption. The control unit switches to the standby mode when no input is received from the user for a predetermined time or more in the normal shooting mode, but when the operation input is not received from the user, the control unit maintains the normal shooting mode and the standby mode. Can be set by the user according to the shooting situation.

JP 2009-147523 A

  However, the above-described conventional photographing apparatus is in the standby mode even if the user wants to enter the standby mode immediately after the end of photographing or after confirming the composition of the photographed image and to reduce power consumption until the next photographing. For a certain period of time, it is necessary to leave the camera without operating it, which is not convenient. On the other hand, if you set the transition time to standby mode short, when you shoot irregularly instead of regularly shooting at the same rhythm as you would when shooting while looking for the subject, you can shoot as intended. Can not do it.

  In addition, the above-described conventional photographing apparatus may miss a photo opportunity because it automatically shifts to the standby mode if the user does not perform an operation input for a certain period of time when attempting to photograph. Also, if you turn off the power instead of shifting to standby mode at the end of each shooting to save power, the lens barrel setup operation is performed each time the power is turned on and off. Electric power is generated.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems,
When a specific operation input is made to the operation system, a mode control unit is provided that shifts from the normal operation mode that supplies power to locations required for shooting operations to the low power consumption mode that supplies power to locations that require constant operation. Thus, the photographing apparatus was configured.

  According to this configuration, when a specific operation input to the operation system is performed, the mode control unit reduces power consumption from supplying power to a place where constant operation is required from a normal operation mode where power is supplied to a place where shooting operation is required. Transition to power mode. For this reason, when the user wants to shift the photographing apparatus from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode, a specific operation input to the operation system is performed, so that the user enters the low power consumption mode like the conventional photographing apparatus. It is not necessary to leave the photographing apparatus for a certain period of time until it is not operated, and it is possible to shift to the low power consumption mode at any desired timing. For this reason, the usability of the photographing apparatus is improved, and it becomes possible to photograph as intended by the user while suppressing the power consumption of the photographing apparatus using the low power consumption mode. In addition, when trying to shoot, there is no chance of shifting to the low power consumption mode and missing a photo opportunity. Further, wasteful power consumption does not occur due to the lens barrel setup operation performed by turning the power on and off instead of shifting to the conventional low power consumption mode.

  In addition, the present invention is characterized in that the mode control unit shifts from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode by using reception of a specific radio signal from the outside as a specific operation input.

  According to this configuration, when a specific wireless signal is received from the outside by the photographing apparatus, the mode control unit shifts from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode. For this reason, it is possible to shift from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode by remote operation, and the usability of the photographing apparatus is further improved.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the mode control unit shifts from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode when a specific operation input is performed on a predetermined operation unit provided in the photographing apparatus.

  According to this configuration, when an operation input is performed on a predetermined operation unit provided in the photographing apparatus with a specific pattern such as a double click or a long press, the mode control unit reduces power consumption from the normal operation mode. The mode is changed. For this reason, when the user wants to shift from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode, the user can perform a specific operation input while holding the photographing apparatus with respect to a predetermined operation unit provided in the photographing apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to shift to the low power consumption mode with ease of use.

  In addition, the present invention is characterized by comprising selection means for selecting whether or not to shift from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode by the mode control unit immediately after shooting.

  According to this configuration, immediately after shooting, the user can select whether or not to shift from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode by the mode control unit using the selection unit. For this reason, since the photographing apparatus automatically confirms the shift to the low power consumption mode immediately after photographing, the usability of the photographing apparatus is further improved.

  According to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, as described above, since it is possible to shift to the low power consumption mode at a desired arbitrary timing, the usability of the imaging apparatus is improved, and the imaging apparatus is configured using the low power consumption mode. It is possible to shoot as intended by the user while reducing power consumption.

1 is a front perspective view showing an outline of an external appearance of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a back perspective view which shows the outline of the external appearance of the digital camera shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the electric circuit structure of the digital camera shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the power supply structure of the digital camera shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the transfer control process to the low power consumption mode performed by CPU of the digital camera shown in FIG.

  Next, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention when the photographing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a digital camera will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing an outline of the appearance of a digital camera 1 according to this embodiment.

  The digital camera 1 includes a camera body 2 and a photographing lens 3 provided on the front surface of the camera body 2. In the digital camera 1 shown in FIG. 1A, the lens 3 is in the retracted position, and in the digital camera 1 shown in FIG. On the left side when viewed from the front of the camera body 2, a grip portion 4 is provided that is gripped by the photographer during photographing. On the upper surface of the grip portion 4, a shutter button 5 for photographing is provided. A power button 6 is provided on the upper surface of the camera body 2 on the right side of the shutter button 5 to supply operating power to each circuit inside the digital camera 1 when operated. A flash 7 is provided on the upper right side when viewed from the front of the camera body 2 to ensure brightness when the subject is dark.

  FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing an outline of the external appearance of the digital camera 1. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG.

  A monitor 11 is provided on the back of the camera body 2. The monitor 11 is composed of a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) liquid crystal or the like, and displays various types of information such as a through image for confirming the composition and shooting information, and reproduces and displays the shot image. The touch panel 12 is disposed on the display surface of the monitor 11 and executes a predetermined function when the user touches it. A touch operation on the monitor 11 by the user is detected by the touch panel 12.

  On the right side of the monitor 11, a zoom button 13 and a cross button 14 are arranged. The zoom button 13 is operated when the captured image displayed on the monitor 11 is enlarged or reduced. The cross button 14 includes direction keys for detecting operation directions such as up and down directions and left and right directions. When a desired setting item is selected from various setting items on a menu screen for performing various settings of the digital camera 1, etc. Operated. An enter button 15 is provided at the center of the cross button 14. The determination button 15 is operated when determining a desired setting item selected by operating the cross button 14. In addition, these buttons can be substituted by a touch panel operation of the monitor 11 on a menu screen displayed on the monitor 11 or the like. Operation systems such as the shutter button 5, the power button 6, the touch panel 12, the zoom button 13, the cross button 14, and the enter button 15 constitute an operation unit provided in the digital camera 1.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an electric circuit configuration of the digital camera 1.

  The digital camera 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a nonvolatile memory 22 including an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Lead Only Memory), and a buffer memory 23 including a RAM (Random Access Memory). Yes. The nonvolatile memory 22 stores a control program that is referred to when the CPU 21 performs various controls. In accordance with a control program stored in the non-volatile memory 22, the CPU 21 controls each part of the circuit using the buffer memory 23 as a temporary storage work area and operates various device functions of the digital camera 1.

  Light from the subject is taken into the digital camera 1 through the lens 3 constituting the optical system. The lens 3 includes a plurality of lens groups including a zoom lens and a focus lens, and is illustrated as a single lens in FIG. The subject light captured in the digital camera 1 projects a subject image on the imaging surface 25 a of the imaging unit 25 disposed on the optical axis of the lens 3. The light receiving elements are two-dimensionally arranged on the imaging surface 25a. The imaging unit 25 includes a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), and the like. The imaging unit 25 captures a subject image formed on the imaging surface 25a of the imaging unit 25 and converts it into an analog imaging signal. The imaging signal is subjected to gain adjustment by an AFE (analog front end) circuit 26 and converted into a digital signal.

  The image processing unit 27 acquires the imaging signal converted into a digital signal by the AFE circuit 26, performs image processing such as color interpolation processing, contour enhancement processing, and white balance processing on the acquired imaging signal and is captured. The image data of the obtained image is generated. The image data generated by the image processing unit 27 is subjected to compression processing, temporarily stored in the buffer memory 23 via the bus 28, and displayed on the monitor 11 as a through image. A touch operation performed on the display area of the monitor 11 is detected by the touch panel 12 connected to the CPU 21. When a touch operation is detected, a touch operation detection signal is output from the touch panel 12, and information input by the touch operation is sent to the CPU 21.

  The CPU 21 is connected to the shutter button 5, the power button 6, and the lens barrel drive unit 31. When the shutter button 5 is half-pressed, the autofocus function is activated, and the lens barrel 3 is moved by the lens barrel drive unit 31 to automatically adjust the focal length. When the shutter button 5 is fully pressed, the shutter button 5 is not shown at a preset shutter speed. The shutter is opened, and the subject image is exposed to the imaging surface 25a of the imaging unit 25 for a predetermined time, and the subject is photographed. The photographed image data is recorded on a memory card 30 constituting a storage medium that is attached to and detached from a slot (not shown) via the recording I / F unit 29. When the power button 6 is operated, the DC power circuit 33 is controlled by the CPU 21, and the electric power of the battery 32 is supplied to each electric circuit necessary for the imaging operation of the imaging unit 25.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of the power supply configuration of the digital camera 1. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG.

  The CPU 21 includes a non-backup unit 21a and a backup unit 21b, and power is always supplied to the backup unit 21b from a backup power source 41 such as a button battery. The backup unit 21b is always operating upon receiving this power supply, and constantly monitors whether or not the power button 6 has been pressed.

  When the power button 6 is pressed, the backup unit 21b transmits an enable signal to the EN1 and EN2 terminals of the DC power circuit 33. By this signal transmission, the non-backup unit 21a of the CPU 21, the memory 42, the digital I / F 43, the imaging system 44, and the lens barrel drive via the channels CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4, CH5, and CH6 of the DC power supply circuit 33. The power of the battery 32 is supplied to places necessary for the photographing operation such as the system 45 and the LCD backlight 46, and the photographing function of the digital camera 1 is activated in the normal operation mode. The memory 42 represents the nonvolatile memory 22, the buffer memory 23, the memory card 30, and the like. The digital I / F 43 represents the recording I / F unit 29, the I / F unit of the touch panel 20, and the like. The imaging system 44 represents the imaging unit 25, the AFE circuit 26, the image processing unit 27, and the like. The lens barrel drive system 45 represents the lens barrel drive unit 31 and the like. The LCD backlight 46 is a light source that is provided on the back surface of the monitor 11 and illuminates the monitor 11. When power is supplied to the I / F unit of the touch panel 20 via the channel CH3, a touch operation on the touch panel 20 is detected. When electric power is supplied through the channels CH4, CH5, and CH6, the lens 3 is driven from the retracted position to a predetermined protruding position by the lens barrel driving unit 31, and the monitor 11 is turned on to turn on the digital camera. Shooting using 1 is possible.

  On the other hand, after power is supplied to the digital camera 1 and photography using the digital camera 1 becomes possible, a specific operation input to the operation system, in this embodiment, the shutter button 5 is quickly pressed halfway twice. When an operation input is performed, the digital camera 1 changes from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode (sleep state). The shutter button 5 constitutes a predetermined operation unit provided in the digital camera 1. When entering the sleep state, the CPU 21 continues to supply power to the non-backup unit 21a, the memory 42, and the digital I / F 43 of the CPU 21 that need to operate at all times via the channels CH1, CH2, and CH3. The disable signal is transmitted to the EN2 terminal. By this signal transmission, the channels CH4, CH5, and CH6 of the DC power supply circuit 33 are closed, and the power supply of the battery 32 to the imaging system 44, the lens barrel driving system 45, and the LCD backlight 46 is stopped. When the power supply of the battery 32 to the imaging system 44 is stopped, the shooting function of the digital camera 1 is stopped. When the power supply of the battery 32 to the lens barrel driving system 45 is stopped, functions such as zooming by the lens barrel driving unit 31 of the lens 3 are stopped while the lens 3 remains in the protruding position. When the power supply of the battery 32 to the LCD backlight 46 is stopped, the monitor 11 is turned off. A mode in which the CPU 21 shifts from a normal operation mode in which power is supplied to a location required for a photographing operation to a low power consumption mode in which power is supplied to a location where constant operation is required when a specific operation input to the operation system is performed. The control unit is configured. In the present embodiment, when the specific operation input described above is performed on the shutter button 5 and the mode is shifted to the low power consumption mode, the user is allowed to select whether to actually execute the low power consumption mode. A screen is displayed on the monitor 11 under the control of the CPU 21. The monitor 11 constitutes selection means for selecting whether or not to shift from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode by the mode control unit.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of the transition control process to the low power consumption mode performed by the CPU 21 of the digital camera 1.

  In the flowchart shown in the figure, the CPU 21 controls the DC power supply circuit 33 to control the power of the battery 32 via the channels CH1 to CH6 when the power button 6 is pressed in step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1. The digital camera 1 is set in the normal operation mode. Next, in S2, the CPU 21 determines whether or not there has been a specific operation input in which the shutter button 5 is quickly pressed halfway twice. If there is no specific operation input and the determination in S2 is “NO”, the CPU 21 is in a standby state until there is a specific operation input. On the other hand, after the power of the digital camera 1 is turned on, for example, after the user confirms the composition or adjusts the exposure, the shutter button 5 is half-pressed twice quickly to determine S2. If “YES”, the CPU 21 displays a confirmation message “Would you like to put the camera in the sleep state” on the screen of the monitor 11 in S3, and determines whether or not to put the digital camera 1 in the sleep state. Next, when the user selects not to put the digital camera 1 in the sleep state on the confirmation screen and the determination in S3 is “NO”, the CPU 21 returns to the process in S2. On the other hand, if the user selects the digital camera 1 to be in the sleep state on the confirmation screen and the determination in S3 is “YES”, the CPU 21 causes the digital camera 1 to transition to the sleep state in S4. In this sleep state, the channels CH4, CH5, and CH6 of the DC power supply circuit 33 are closed, and power supply to locations that do not always require operation is stopped, thereby suppressing power consumption of the battery 32, as described above. In addition, the monitor 11 is turned off, and the photographing function of the digital camera 1 and the zoom function of the lens 3 are stopped. Further, the position of the lens 3 remains at the protruding position.

  Next, in S5, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a predetermined specific button such as the shutter button 5 or the power button 6 has been operated. If the specific button is not operated and the determination in S5 is “NO”, the process returns to S4. On the other hand, when the user performs a button operation such as pressing the power button 6 or pressing the shutter button 5 halfway, the determination of S5 becomes “YES”, and the CPU 21 goes from the sleep state in S6. Performs return processing to shift to normal operation mode. In this restoration processing, the power of the battery 32 is supplied from each channel CH4, CH5, CH6 of the DC power supply circuit 33, so that the monitor 11 is turned on, and the photographing function of the digital camera 1 and the zoom function of the lens 3 are restored. And normal shooting becomes possible.

  According to the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment as described above, a specific operation input for quickly pressing the shutter button 5 provided in the digital camera 1 halfway twice is performed, and the determination in FIG. In the case of “YES”, from the normal operation mode in which the CPU 21 supplies power from the channels CH1 to CH6 of the DC power supply circuit 33 to the places necessary for the photographing operation, the channels CH1 to CH3 of the DC power supply circuit 33 to the places where the constant operation is necessary. In step S4, the mode is shifted to the low power consumption mode in which power is supplied from the power source. For this reason, when the user wants to shift the digital camera 1 from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode, the user performs a specific operation input to the shutter button 5 so that the low power consumption mode is performed as in the conventional digital camera. It is not necessary to leave the digital camera 1 without operating it for a certain period of time until it becomes, and it is possible to shift to the low power consumption mode at any desired timing. For this reason, the usability of the digital camera 1 is improved, and it is possible to take a picture as intended by the user while suppressing the power consumption of the digital camera 1 using the low power consumption mode. In addition, when trying to shoot, there is no chance of shifting to the low power consumption mode and missing a photo opportunity. Further, useless power consumption is not generated by the setup operation of the lens 3 that is performed by turning the power on and off instead of shifting to the conventional low power consumption mode.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when a specific operation input for quickly pressing the shutter button 5 provided in the digital camera 1 twice halfway is performed and the determination of S2 is “YES”, the CPU 21 The normal operation mode is shifted to the low power consumption mode. For this reason, when the user wants to shift from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode, the user can quickly and twice press the shutter button 5 provided on the digital camera 1 while holding the digital camera 1. Therefore, it is possible to shift to the low power consumption mode with ease of use.

  In the present embodiment, the specific operation input to the predetermined operation unit provided in the digital camera 1 is configured to be two quick half-press operation inputs to the shutter button 5, but the predetermined operation unit The specific operation input for is not limited to this operation input. The specific operation input to the predetermined operation unit may be, for example, an operation input in which the shutter button 5 is half-pressed a predetermined number of times such as three times or four times. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which operation inputs such as the power button 6, the cross button 14, and the enter button 15 are double-clicked or long-pressed. Moreover, the structure which makes it the operation input which pushes the button only for sleep may be sufficient. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a finger is moved on the touch panel 12 and an operation input for inputting a specific trajectory such as a star shape or a straight line is possible.

  In the present embodiment, the specific operation input is performed on a predetermined operation unit provided in the digital camera 1, but reception of a specific radio signal from the outside is the specific operation input. It may be a configuration. In this case, the CPU 21 configures a mode control unit that shifts from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode using reception of a specific wireless signal from the outside as a specific operation input. According to this configuration, when a specific wireless signal is received by the digital camera 1 from the outside such as a remote controller, the CPU 21 shifts from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode. For this reason, it is possible to shift from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode by remote operation, and usability is further improved.

  In the present embodiment, when a specific operation input is performed on a predetermined operation unit provided in the digital camera 1, a confirmation screen as to whether or not to put the digital camera 1 in the sleep state is displayed in FIG. 5 and S3. Although it is configured to display on the monitor 11, the timing for displaying on the monitor 11 a confirmation screen as to whether or not to put the digital camera 1 in the sleep state is not limited to immediately after a specific operation input is made to the operation system. . For example, immediately after shooting is performed, the monitor 11 configuring the selection unit may select whether or not to shift from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode by the CPU 21 configuring the mode control unit. . According to this configuration, the user can select whether or not to shift from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode using the monitor 11 immediately after shooting. For this reason, since the digital camera 1 automatically confirms the transition to the low power consumption mode immediately after shooting, the usability of the digital camera 1 is further improved.

  The confirmation screen for determining whether to put the digital camera 1 in the sleep state is displayed on the monitor 11 immediately after the basic setting is confirmed on the menu screen for setting the basic setup. It may be a configuration. Alternatively, the confirmation screen may be displayed on the monitor 11 when the power switch 6 is turned on or off. Further, the confirmation screen may be displayed on the monitor 11 when the confirmation image of the photographed image is displayed after the shutter button 5 is pressed and photographing is performed.

  Further, in the present embodiment and each of the modifications described above, the monitor 11 constitutes a selection unit that allows the mode control unit to select whether or not to shift from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode. For example, the configuration may be such that the user selects whether to shift from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode by sound output from a speaker. Further, by checking whether or not the digital camera 1 is in the sleep state as described above, it is possible to prevent the digital camera 1 from inadvertently going into the sleep state and not to be mistaken for a failure. However, it is not always necessary to confirm whether or not the digital camera 1 is in the sleep state, and a configuration in which this confirmation is not performed may be employed.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the monitor 11 is turned off in the low power consumption mode, the photographing function of the digital camera 1, the zoom function of the lens 3, and the like are stopped, and the lens 3 remains in the protruding position. However, the low power consumption mode is not limited to the above state, and can be set as appropriate. For example, in the low power consumption mode, the monitor 11 may be turned on, the lens 3 may be moved to the retracted position, and the charging function of the flash 7 may be stopped.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the photographing apparatus of the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to other photographing apparatuses such as a video camera and a camera built in a mobile phone. . Even when the present invention is applied to such a photographing apparatus, the same effects as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Lens 5 ... Shutter button 6 ... Power button 13 ... Zoom button 14 ... Cross button 15 ... Decision button 11 ... Monitor 12 ... Touch panel 21 ... CPU
25 ... Imaging unit 31 ... Lens barrel drive unit

Claims (4)

A mode control unit is provided to switch from a normal operation mode that supplies power to locations required for shooting operations to a low power consumption mode that supplies power to locations that require constant operation when a specific operation input is made to the operation system. Shooting device. The imaging device according to claim 1,
The mode control unit shifts from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode using reception of a specific wireless signal from the outside as the specific operation input. In the imaging device according to claim 1 or 2,
The mode control unit shifts from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode when the specific operation input is performed on a predetermined operation unit provided in the imaging device. In the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Immediately after shooting is performed, the mode control unit includes selection means for selecting whether or not to shift from the normal operation mode to the low power consumption mode.

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