JP2012008306A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem that a conventional camera is difficult to perform the identical predetermined operations and the operability is bad because there are individual habits, for example about how to move a finger of an operator.SOLUTION: A contact position in a touch panel 3 of a finger to be operated in response to a focusing function and a shutter function is customized in S6, and according to the contact position, an operator is registered in S7 by registration means. Therefore, as the habit of the registered operator, the contact position in the touch panel 3 of the finger to be operated in response to the focusing function and the shutter function can be reflected in a digital camera 1, and even the identical predetermined operations are customized to operations suited for the operator, so that the digital camera 1 having excellent operability can be provided.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device including a touch sensor.

  Conventionally, as this type of imaging apparatus, for example, there is a camera disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this camera, an electrostatic capacity type sensor unit whose electrostatic capacity changes when an operator's finger is brought into contact is provided on the back surface of the camera body and on the upper surface. When the thumb is brought into contact with the first sensor part provided on the back surface of the camera body part and the index finger is brought into contact with the second sensor part provided on the upper surface of the camera body part, focusing is performed. After that, when the thumb is in contact with the first sensor unit, the index finger is slid from the second sensor unit and brought into contact with the third sensor unit provided on the upper surface of the camera body unit, and the shutter is driven. A subject image captured by a CCD or the like is stored in a storage medium.

JP 2005-55723 A

  In the conventional camera, as described above, in order to focus, the index finger is brought into contact with the second sensor unit while the thumb is in contact with the first sensor unit, and the first sensor is used to release the shutter. It is necessary to perform a predetermined agreed operation in which the index finger is slid from the second sensor unit and brought into contact with the third sensor unit while the thumb is in contact with the sensor unit. However, since there is a personal habit in how to move the operator's finger, it is difficult for the conventional camera to perform the same agreed operation and the operability is poor.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems,
A touch sensor for detecting finger contact;
A control unit that activates a predetermined device function according to the detection mode of the finger detected by the touch sensor;
The imaging apparatus is configured to include registration means for registering an operator according to a contact position of a finger operated in accordance with a predetermined device function or a time required for a predetermined operation.

  According to the present invention, as a registered operator's trap, the touch position of a finger operated corresponding to a predetermined device function or a time required for a predetermined operation can be reflected in the imaging device. Even in the same negotiated operation, the operation is customized to suit the operator, so that an imaging device with good operability can be provided.

1 is a rear perspective view showing an appearance of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric circuit structure of the digital camera shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the customization process which customizes the operation position of a touch panel performed by the engine of the digital camera shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of a photographing process performed by an engine of the digital camera shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the security process performed by the engine of the digital camera shown in FIG. It is a back perspective view which shows the external appearance of the digital camera by the modification of this invention.

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

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

  One touch panel 3 for detecting the contact of the operator's finger is provided at a location on the upper right side as viewed from the back of the camera housing 2 of the digital camera 1 where the operator's finger is easily applied. Further, a finger operation customization button 4 that is pressed down when the operator registers the touch position of the touch panel 3 is provided at a part of the right end of the touch panel 3. A back monitor 5 is provided on the back of the camera housing 2. The rear monitor 5 is composed of a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) liquid crystal or the like, and displays various information such as a through image and photographing information for confirming the composition, and reproduces and displays the photographed image. A zoom button and a cross button (not shown) are arranged on the right side of the rear monitor 5. The zoom button is operated when enlarging or reducing the captured image displayed on the rear monitor 5. The cross button includes direction keys for detecting operation directions such as up and down directions and left and right directions, and is operated when a desired setting item is selected from various setting items on a menu screen for performing various settings of the digital camera 1. Is done. A determination button is provided at the center of the cross button, and the determination button is operated when determining a desired setting item selected by operating the cross button.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of the digital camera 1 shown in FIG.

  The digital camera 1 includes an engine 11 composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls its operation, and operates by receiving power supply from a power source 12. The engine 11 includes a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a buffer memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory). The engine 11 performs various control processes for each circuit in the digital camera 1 by the CPU, using the buffer memory as a temporary storage work area, according to a control program stored in the nonvolatile memory.

  A touch panel 3 is connected to the engine 11. The touch panel 3 is composed of a resistive touch sensor, detects the position coordinates of the finger touching the touch panel 3, and outputs it to the engine 11. The engine 11 analyzes the finger position coordinates that are sequentially input, and detects a finger movement pattern that moves two-dimensionally on the surface of the touch panel 3. In the present embodiment, when the engine 11 recognizes a focus touch pattern in which an operator's finger keeps touching a predetermined location on the surface of the touch panel 3 for a predetermined time or more, the engine 11 focuses the photographing lens 7 that forms a subject image on the image sensor 13. A focusing function for focusing on the subject is activated as a predetermined device function. In addition, when a shutter touch pattern in which the operator's finger touches a predetermined position on the surface of the touch panel 3 again is recognized within a predetermined time after the focus touch pattern is recognized, a shutter function for recording a subject image captured by the image sensor 13 is provided. To operate as a predetermined different device function. The touch panel 3 constitutes a touch sensor that detects a finger contact, and the engine 11 constitutes a control unit that activates a predetermined device function in accordance with the finger detection mode detected by the touch panel 3.

  The taking lens 7 provided at the front center of the camera housing 2 is controlled by the taking lens control circuit 14. The subject light guided from the photographic lens 7 is guided to the image sensor 13 made of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), or the like, and projects a subject image on the image pickup surface of the image sensor 13. The imaging element 13 constitutes an imaging unit that captures a subject image. When the engine 11 detects the focus touch pattern on the touch panel 3, the engine 11 activates the focusing function, and controls the photographing lens control circuit 14 so that the contrast of the subject projected on the imaging surface of the imaging element 13 becomes the highest. The position of the lens 7 is moved to automatically adjust the focus. The subject image formed on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 13 is read by the image pickup circuit 15 and converted into an analog image pickup signal, subjected to predetermined processing, and converted into a digital signal. The digitized imaging signal is acquired by the engine 11, and the engine 11 performs image processing such as white balance processing and gamma correction on the acquired imaging signal to generate image data, and performs compression processing. Once stored in the buffer memory in the engine 11. The image data stored in the buffer memory is read by the display circuit 19 under the control of the engine 11 and reproduced and displayed on the rear monitor 5 as a through image for confirming the composition of the subject image captured by the image sensor 13. . The rear monitor 5 constitutes a display unit that displays a subject image captured by the image sensor 13. When the engine 11 detects the shutter touch pattern on the touch panel 3, the engine 11 activates the shutter function and stores the image data in the built-in memory 16 including a nonvolatile memory or the memory card 18 that is attached to and detached from the card slot 17.

  Also, the finger operation customization button 4 is connected to the engine 11. When the finger operation customization button 4 is pressed down, the engine 11 uses, as the operator information, the contact position where the operator's finger contacts the touch panel 3 in the touch operation that activates the focusing function or the shutter function described above. Register in the internal memory 16. The engine 11 and the built-in memory 16 constitute registration means for registering an operator according to a contact position of a finger operated corresponding to a predetermined device function on a touch sensor. Further, when an operator is registered by pressing the finger operation customization button 4, the engine 11 creates a folder for creating a registered folder for the operator in the internal memory 16 or the memory card 18, and has taken a photograph. Recording means for recording the shooting data in the created folder is configured. Further, the engine 11 constitutes a determination unit, and an operation in which an operator who touches the touch panel 3 from the contact position on the touch panel 3 of a finger operated corresponding to a predetermined device function is registered by the registration unit. It is determined whether it is a person.

  An audio processing circuit 22 is connected to the engine 11. The sound processing circuit 22 generates a sound output signal based on the control of the engine 11. The generated sound output signal is amplified by the speaker amplifier 23, and sound based on the sound output signal is output from the speaker 24 to the outside of the digital camera 1. Various operating members 21 are connected to the engine 11. The various operation members 21 include the zoom button, the cross button, the determination button, the power button (not shown), the menu button, and the playback button. The power button is operated when turning on / off the power of the digital camera 1. The menu button is operated when a menu screen for performing various settings of the digital camera 1 is displayed on the rear monitor 5. The playback button is operated when a captured image stored in the internal memory 16 or the memory card 18 is played back and displayed on the rear monitor 5.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the customization process of the operation position of the touch panel 3 performed by the engine 11 of the digital camera 1 will be described.

  In S1, the engine 11 determines whether or not the finger operation customization button 4 has been pressed by the operator. When the finger operation customization button 4 is pressed down and the determination result in S1 is “Yes”, the engine 11 determines whether or not the operator's finger is touching the shutter button touch area of the touch panel 3 in S2. Is determined. If the operator's finger is not touching the shutter button touch area of the touch panel 3 and the determination result of S2 is “No”, the engine 11 repeats the process of S2.

  If the operator's finger is touching the shutter button touch area of the touch panel 3 and the determination result in S2 is “Yes”, the engine 11 acquires the touch coordinates where the touch panel 3 is touched in S3. . In subsequent S4, the engine 11 determines whether or not the number of times the touch panel 3 has been touched exceeds a predetermined number A1. If the number of touches on the touch panel 3 does not exceed the predetermined number of times A1, and the determination result in S4 is “No”, the engine 11 repeats the process of S3. On the other hand, when the number of touches on the touch panel 3 exceeds the predetermined number of times A1 and the determination result in S4 is “Yes”, the engine 11 calculates the average value of the touch coordinates detected the predetermined number of times in S5. Thus, the optimum touch position of the shutter button suitable for the operator is obtained. In S6, the engine 11 sets the touch position of the shutter button for operating the shutter function to the touch position obtained in S5, customizes it for the operator who operates the digital camera 1, and creates a folder for the operator. Then, let the operator enter the folder name of the created folder. Next, the engine 11 registers an operator in S7. That is, the engine 11 registers the operator according to the average value of the contact positions on the touch panel 3 of the finger operated a plurality of times corresponding to the shutter function.

  If the finger operation customization button 4 is not pressed and the determination result in S1 is “No”, or after the processing in S7, the engine 11 touches the customized touch position of the touch panel 3 in S8. Then, the photographing process described later is performed by the touch focus and the touch release performed in this way, and in subsequent S9, the photographed image data is stored in the folder of the operator created in S6.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, a photographing process performed by the engine 11 of the digital camera 1 in FIGS. 3 and S8 will be described.

  In this photographing process, the engine 11 determines whether or not the operator's finger continues to touch the touch position of the touch panel 3 customized in FIGS. 3 and S6 in S11. If the finger of the operator does not keep touching the touch position of the customized touch panel 3 and the determination result in S11 is “No”, the engine 11 repeats the process in S11.

  If the finger of the operator continues to touch the touch position of the customized touch panel 3 and the determination result in S11 is “Yes”, the engine 11 touches the touch position of the customized touch panel 3 in S12. Cumulatively counts the touch time when is touched. In S13, the engine 11 determines whether or not the touch time accumulated in S12 is longer than the predetermined time B1. If the accumulated touch time is shorter than the predetermined time B1 and the determination in S13 is “No”, the engine 11 returns the process to S11. On the other hand, if the accumulated touch time is longer than the predetermined time B1 and the determination in S13 is “Yes”, the engine 11 moves the position of the photographing lens 7 to focus in S14, and in S15, the rear monitor A focus frame 6 indicating that focus has been performed is displayed on the screen 5 as shown in FIG.

  Next, in S16, the engine 11 determines whether or not the operator's finger continues to touch the touch position of the customized touch panel 3. If the finger of the operator continues to touch the touch position of the customized touch panel 3 and the determination result in S16 is “Yes”, the engine 11 determines in S17 whether or not to refocus. Let the operator choose. When it is selected that the focus adjustment is not performed again and the determination in S17 is “No”, the engine 11 returns the process to S16. On the other hand, if it is selected to refocus, and the determination in S17 is “Yes”, the engine 11 returns the process to S14.

  On the other hand, if the operator's finger does not continue to touch the touch position of the customized touch panel 3 and the determination result in S16 is “No”, the engine 11 causes the operator to adjust the focus in S18. It is determined whether or not the time required until the finger is later released from the touch panel 3 and touched again is within the predetermined time interval B2. If the time required for releasing the finger once from the touch panel 3 and touching it again is not within the predetermined time interval B2, and the determination result in S18 is “No”, the engine 11 notifies the monitor 5 of the focus release notification. The focus adjustment performed in S14 is canceled, and the process returns to S11. On the other hand, if the time required to release the finger from the touch panel 3 once and touch it again is within the predetermined time interval B2, and the determination result in S18 is “Yes”, the engine 11 activates the shutter mechanism in S19. Activate and release the shutter. If the determination result in S18 is “No”, the process may proceed to S17 without returning to S1, and the operator may select whether or not to refocus.

  Next, security processing performed by the engine 11 of the digital camera 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the power of the digital camera 1 is turned on, the engine 11 determines whether or not the operator's finger is touched on the touch panel 3 in S21. If the finger of the operator is not touched on the touch panel 3 and the determination result in S21 is “No”, the engine 11 repeats the process in S21.

  If the operator's finger is touched on the touch panel 3 and the determination result in S21 is “Yes”, the engine 11 acquires touch coordinates where the touch panel 3 is touched in S22. In subsequent S23, the engine 11 compares the touch coordinates acquired in S22 with the touch position of the touch panel 3 customized in FIGS. 3 and S6, and the operator is the operator registered in FIGS. 3 and S7. It is determined whether or not. If the touch coordinates acquired in S22 and the customized touch position do not match and it is determined that the operator is not a registered operator, and the determination result in S23 is “No”, the engine 11 performs digital processing in S24. The camera 1 is turned off to end the security process. The engine 11 constitutes an operation lock unit that does not accept an operation input from the touch panel 3 when the determination unit determines that the operator who touched the touch panel 3 is not an operator registered by the registration unit.

  On the other hand, if the touch coordinates acquired in S22 match the customized touch position and it is determined that the operator is registered, and the determination result in S23 is “Yes”, the engine 11 determines in S25. 4 is performed, and in subsequent S26, the captured image data is stored in the operator's folder created in FIGS. 3 and S6, and the process ends.

  According to the digital camera 1 of this embodiment as described above, the operator operates the registration unit according to the contact position on the touch panel 3 of the finger operated in accordance with the focusing function or the shutter function. Registered at For this reason, as a registered operator's habit, the contact position on the touch panel 3 of the finger operated in accordance with the focusing function or the shutter function can be reflected on the digital camera 1, and the same determined operation can be performed. Even if it exists, since it is customized to the operation suitable for the operator, the digital camera 1 with good operability can be provided.

  Further, according to the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, when the determination unit determines that the operator who touched the touch panel 3 is an operator registered by the registration unit in FIGS. The information is recorded by the recording means in FIGS. 5 and S26 in the folder for the operator created by the folder creating means in FIGS. For this reason, when the digital camera 1 is used, it is possible to save the trouble of creating the storage destination of the imaging data for each operator.

  Further, according to the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, if it is determined in FIG. 5 or S23 that the operator who touched the touch panel 3 is not an operator registered by the registration means, the power source of the digital camera 1 is determined in S24. Is turned off, and the operation input from the touch panel 3 is not accepted by the operation lock means. For this reason, the possibility that the digital camera 1 is used by an unspecified person is prevented, and the security of the digital camera 1 is enhanced.

  Further, according to the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, the operation is performed according to the average value of the contact position on the touch panel 3 of the finger operated multiple times corresponding to the shutter function, which is obtained in FIGS. Registered. For this reason, it is possible to more accurately grasp the operator's habit and register the operator.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the operator is registered according to the average value of the touch positions on the touch panel 3 of the finger operated multiple times corresponding to the shutter function has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It will never be done. For example, you may make it register based on the contact position in the touch panel 3 of a finger detected by one operation. In this configuration, after customization, the registrant's discrimination threshold is given a margin, and it is discriminated whether or not he is a registered operator.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the registration unit registers the operator in accordance with the contact position on the touch panel 3 of the finger operated in accordance with a predetermined device function. There is no limit. For example, an operator is registered according to the time required for a predetermined operation of a finger operated corresponding to a predetermined device function, for example, the time until the shutter function is activated after the focusing function is activated. It may be configured.

  In such a configuration, the operator is registered by the registration unit according to the time required for a predetermined operation on the touch panel 3 of a finger operated corresponding to a predetermined device function. For this reason, as a registered operator's trap, the time required for a predetermined operation on the touch panel 3 of a finger operated corresponding to a predetermined device function can be reflected in the digital camera 1, and the same arrangement is made. Even if it is operation, since it is customized by operation suitable for an operator, the digital camera 1 with sufficient operativity can be provided. In addition, after the focusing function is activated, the operator is registered according to the average value of the time required for a predetermined operation on the touch panel 3 of the finger operated a plurality of times in response to the activation of the shutter function. In this case, it is possible to register the operator by more accurately grasping the operator's habit.

  In the above embodiment and the modification, the case where the operator's habit to register is grasped from the finger contact position on the touch panel 3 or the time required for a predetermined operation has been described, but the present invention is limited to this. There is no. For example, the operator may grasp the touch width or trace pattern when the operator traces the surface of the touch panel 3 with a finger as an operator's heel and register the operator. Even in this configuration, the same effects as the above-described embodiment are achieved.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment and modification, although it was set as the structure which grasps | ascertains an operator's habit and registers an operator, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the operator may be registered by grasping the physical characteristics of the operator himself / herself. For example, an image recognition type touch sensor provided with a finger imaging unit that images a finger such as a CCD or CMOS is used as the touch panel 3, and an operator is determined from a fingerprint of finger imaging data captured by the finger imaging unit, Further, the operator may be registered by discriminating the operator from the difference in the reflectance of light applied to the finger. Alternatively, a capacitive touch sensor may be used as the touch panel 3, and the operator may be registered by discriminating the operator from the change in capacitance caused by the touch. Alternatively, a vibration detection type touch sensor may be used as the touch panel 3, and the operator may be registered by discriminating the operator from the difference in panel surface vibration caused by the touch.

  Moreover, although the case where the finger operation customization button 4 was provided in a part of the right end of the touch panel 3 was demonstrated in the said embodiment, the installation position of the finger operation customization button 4 is not restricted to this. For example, it may be provided in a touch area in the touch panel 3 or may be provided as a separate button outside the touch panel 3.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the focus frame 6 is displayed on the rear monitor 5 to notify that the focus has been performed has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be configured to notify that the focus has been achieved by vibration or sound.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the touch panel 3 was installed in the upper right side seeing from the back surface of the camera housing | casing 2 was demonstrated, the installation position of the touch panel 3 is not restricted to this. For example, as long as it is a place where a finger on each housing surface (including the case of an out barrier) of the digital camera 1 can easily be placed, it may be provided at any position.

  FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view showing the appearance of a digital camera 31 according to a modification of the digital camera 1 shown in FIG. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG.

  A digital camera 31 according to this modification is configured by providing a second touch panel 32 on the digital camera 1 shown in FIG. The second touch panel 32 detects, for example, a contact position of a thumb that is different from, for example, an index finger touching the touch panel 3. The engine 11 registers the operator in the built-in memory 16 according to the contact position detected by the touch panel 3 and the contact position detected by the second touch panel 32. According to such a configuration, since the operator is registered from the combination of the contact position detected by the touch panel 3 and the contact position detected by the second touch panel 32, the operator's habit is more accurately grasped. The registration accuracy can be improved.

  In addition, in the said modification, although the case where one 2nd touch panel 32 was added was demonstrated, the installation number of the touch panels to add is not restricted to this, You may add two or more. At this time, the touch panel to be added may be installed at any position as long as a finger on each housing surface (including an out barrier) of the digital camera 1 can be easily applied.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the imaging device according to the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a camera or the like built in a mobile phone. Even when the present invention is applied to such an imaging apparatus, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,31 ... Digital camera, 3 ... Touch panel, 4 ... Finger operation customization button, 11 ... Engine, 32 ... 2nd touch panel

Claims (5)

A touch sensor for detecting finger contact;
A control unit that activates a predetermined device function according to the detection mode of the finger detected by the touch sensor;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a registration unit that registers an operator according to a contact position of a finger operated corresponding to a predetermined device function or a time required for a predetermined operation of the touch sensor. The imaging device according to claim 1,
The operator who has touched the touch sensor from the contact position of the finger operated in accordance with the predetermined device function or the time required for the predetermined operation is the operator registered by the registration means. Determination means for determining whether or not,
Folder creation means for creating a folder for the operator registered by the registration means;
An imaging apparatus comprising: recording means for recording imaging data in a folder created by the folder creating means. In the imaging device according to claim 1 or 2,
An operation locking unit is provided that prevents an operation input from the touch sensor from being accepted when the determination unit determines that the operator who touched the touch sensor is not an operator registered by the registration unit. An imaging device. In the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The registration unit registers an operator according to an average value of a contact position of a finger operated a plurality of times corresponding to a predetermined device function or a time required for a predetermined operation of the touch sensor. An imaging device. In the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A second touch sensor that is provided at a position different from the touch sensor and detects a contact position of a finger different from a finger touching the touch sensor;
The registration device registers an operator according to a contact position detected by the touch sensor and a contact position detected by the second touch sensor.

Images