JP2012019321A - Imaging apparatus, control method thereof, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus for displaying a photographing image at an appropriate timing for an appropriate time concerning a quick review for displaying an image immediately after photographing.SOLUTION: When an image is photographed in a digital camera 100, the photographed image is stored in a memory 130 (S305). Then, the image stored in the memory 130 is displayed on a display surface of an image display part 124 during a predetermined display time immediately after the photographing (S308). When the display time elapses, the posture of a main body of the digital camera 100 is detected (S313), and the detected posture of the main body is determined (S314). When it is determined that the display surface is directed upward in the posture, the display time is extended (S315).

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device, and more particularly, an imaging device that displays an image at an appropriate timing during a quick review and extends the image display, a control method thereof, a program for causing a computer to execute the control method, and a program stored therein The present invention relates to a storage medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Recently, an imaging apparatus that collects light of an object with a photographing lens and forms an image on an imaging element such as a CCD and stores image data in a storage medium, such as a digital camera, is widely used. Such an imaging apparatus has an image display unit for confirming a subject, reproducing a stored image, and the like.

  In order to check a subject through an image display unit, an imaging apparatus equipped with a live view shooting mode for displaying the subject on the image display unit in real time is known. Even in an imaging apparatus that does not include an optical viewfinder, shooting can be performed while checking the composition through the image display unit by using the live view shooting mode.

  In addition, an imaging apparatus having a quick review function for displaying a captured image for a certain period of time on an image display unit in order to check a captured image immediately after shooting is known. Conventionally, the display time of the quick review can be set to a time set in advance by the user, or can be set so as to continue until an operation for ending the quick review is performed by the user ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

  In addition to the quick review function, another technique has been proposed in which image display is maintained as it is when the zoom lever is operated during execution of the quick review function (see, for example, Patent Document 2). There has also been proposed a technique for holding an image display as it is until an arbitrary operation key is pressed when taking a still image using a self-timer or a remote control (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

JP 2001-186386 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-223963 JP 2007-013472 A

  However, as in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, in the case where the quick review is completed in a predetermined time, the quick review disappears in the middle even though the user wants to carefully check the captured image. There is. On the other hand, if the display time of the quick review is set to be extremely long, an image that does not need to be confirmed continues to be displayed, which causes a problem that power consumption increases.

  In the case of the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is necessary for the user to operate the zoom lever during the quick review, and there is a problem that the operation is troublesome. Further, in the case of the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, it is necessary to press an arbitrary operation key during the quick review, and since the captured image is continuously displayed until then, there is a problem that power consumption increases.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device that displays a captured image at an appropriate timing for an appropriate time in a quick review in which an image is displayed immediately after shooting. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling the imaging apparatus, a program for causing a computer to execute the control method, and a storage medium storing the program.

  An image pickup apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an image pickup apparatus including an image pickup unit that takes an image, an instruction unit that instructs the storage unit to store an image shot by the image pickup unit, and a display surface Display means for displaying the image stored in the storage means on the display surface, attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the main body of the imaging device, and the storage means for a predetermined display time Quick review control means for controlling the display of the image on the display surface at the time of quick review for displaying the image stored on the display surface immediately after the image is captured, and the quick review control means Is characterized in that the display time is extended when the posture detection means detects that the posture of the main body is a posture with the display surface facing upward when the display time has elapsed. .

  An imaging apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that captures an image, the instruction unit instructing storage of an image captured by the imaging unit in a storage unit, and the instruction Display means for displaying the image stored in the storage means by the means, attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the main body of the imaging device, and images stored in the storage means for a predetermined display time. Quick review control means for controlling display of the image on the display means at the time of quick review displayed on the display means immediately after shooting the image, and the quick review control means is photographed by the imaging means. When the displayed image is stored in the storage unit, the posture detection unit detects the posture of the main body detected by the posture detection unit and the display time. If there is a difference between the attitude of the body that is characterized by performing the extension of the display time.

  According to the present invention, in a quick review in which an image is displayed immediately after shooting, a shot image can be displayed at an appropriate timing for an appropriate time.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which concerns on 1st Embodiment of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a side view schematically showing the relationship between the operation of the main body of the digital camera and the operation of the image display unit according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which concerns on 4th Embodiment of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows typically the relationship between the operation | movement of the main body of a digital camera and the operation | movement of an image display part according to the flowchart shown in FIG.6 and FIG.7.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the digital camera 100, light from the subject is imaged on the imaging unit 116 by the photographing lens 111, and is converted into an electrical signal by the imaging unit 116. Specifically, the imaging unit 116 is a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor. In front of the imaging unit 116, a mechanical shutter 115 that is operated in accordance with an instruction from an exposure control unit 134 described later is disposed. The mechanical shutter 115 is retracted from the optical path of the subject luminous flux and retracted from the optical path of the subject luminous flux (not shown), and is retracted from the optical path of the subject luminous flux. It is a focal plane shutter having a rear curtain (not shown) that shields light.

  Since the electrical signal output from the imaging unit 116 is an analog signal, the analog signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 120. The image processing circuit 122 performs predetermined arithmetic processing such as pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the digital signal output from the A / D converter 120 and data output from the memory control circuit 123 described later. . The system control circuit 140 performs AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the calculation result obtained by the image processing circuit 122.

  The memory control circuit 123 controls the A / D converter 120, the image processing circuit 122, the image display memory 132, the D / A converter 121, the memory 130, and the timer circuit 131. Image data output from the A / D converter 120 is written to the image display memory 132 or the memory 130 via the image processing circuit 122 and the memory control circuit 123 or directly via the memory control circuit 123.

  The image display unit 124 is, for example, a TFT-LCD, and the display image data written in the image display memory 132 is displayed on the image display unit 124 through the D / A converter 121. The memory 130 stores captured still image and moving image data, and has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still image data and a predetermined time of moving image data. Thus, the digital camera 100 can write a large amount of image data to the memory 130 at high speed even during continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot.

  The timer circuit 131 measures a preset time such as a quick review display time and a quick review display extension time. The exposure control means 134 controls the movement of the front and rear curtains of the mechanical shutter 115, the control of shutter charge and aperture (not shown) for returning the front and rear curtains to their original positions, according to instructions from the system control circuit 140. I do. The distance measurement control unit 135 controls focusing of the photographing lens 111. The exposure control means 134 and the distance measurement control means 135 are controlled using the TTL method, and the system control circuit 140 controls the exposure control means 134 and the distance measurement control means 135 based on the calculation result by the image processing circuit 122. Control.

  The system control circuit 140 controls the entire digital camera 100. The system control circuit 140 includes a CPU, and implements various processes in the digital camera 100 by executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 141. The display unit 142 displays an operation state, a message, and the like of the digital camera 100 using characters, images, sounds, and the like according to the execution of the program by the system control circuit 140. Note that the display unit 142 is installed in a single or a plurality of positions near the operation unit of the digital camera 100 so as to be visually recognized, and is configured by, for example, a combination of an LCD, an LED, a sound generation element, etc. It is installed in the viewfinder (see FIG. 2 described later).

  The object detection means 143 projects infrared light, for example, and detects the presence or absence of an object from the reflected light. If the object detection unit 143 is disposed below the optical viewfinder, it is possible to detect whether or not the photographer has a face close to the optical viewfinder, and the photographer keeps the face close to the optical viewfinder even after shooting. As long as the quick review is not displayed on the image display unit 124. Therefore, when the photographer intends to continue photographing, an effect that the photographing action is not hindered by the brightness of the image display unit 124 can be obtained.

  The posture detection unit 144 detects the posture of the digital camera 100 and can use a known sensor such as an angular velocity sensor, a gravity sensor, or an acceleration sensor. The tripod mode setting means 146 determines whether or not a tripod is used, and whether or not the tripod is used can be detected by using a detection switch or a detection sensor on a tripod (not shown) of the digital camera 100. Note that the image display unit 124 may be configured to display a setting screen so that the photographer sets whether to use a tripod.

  The quick review control unit 145 performs control to display the captured image at an appropriate timing on the image display unit 124 at the time of executing the quick review, and extends the quick review display time set in advance by the photographer. I do. Such control by the quick review control unit 145 is performed based on detection results by the object detection unit 143 and the posture detection unit 144 and setting information by the tripod mode setting unit 146. In this embodiment, the quick review control unit 145 is an independent block, but the system control circuit 140 may also function as the quick review control unit 145.

  The shutter button 150 is constituted by a two-stage switch of shutter switches SW1 and SW2. The shooting preparation operation instruction unit 151 instructs a shooting preparation operation such as AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and AWB (auto white balance) processing. In the present embodiment, the shooting preparation operation instruction unit 151 includes a shutter switch SW1 that is turned ON by the first stroke of the shutter button 150.

  The shooting operation instruction means 152 instructs the start of shooting operation (that is, shooting processing). That is, first, the photographing operation instruction unit 152 instructs the start of an exposure process of writing image data to the memory 130 via the A / D converter 120 and the memory control circuit 123 via the signal read from the imaging unit 116. The photographing operation instructing unit 152 also instructs development processing using the calculation in the image processing circuit 122 and the memory control circuit 123. The photographing operation instruction unit 152 further reads out the image data from the memory 130 and compresses it by the compression / decompression circuit 133. That is, the photographing operation instruction unit 152 instructs a series of processing to write the image data in the storage medium 180 to store the photographed image. . In the present embodiment, the photographing operation instruction unit 152 includes a shutter switch SW2 that is turned on by the second stroke of the shutter button 150 (second stroke> first stroke).

  By pressing the power button 164, the driving of the digital camera 100 is switched ON / OFF. The power supply control means 160 detects whether or not the power supply means 163 such as a battery is attached, the type of the power supply means 163, the remaining battery level when the power supply means 163 is a battery, and the like. Based on the instruction, the necessary voltage is supplied to the necessary part for the necessary period. The power supply control means 160 and the power supply means are electrically connected via connectors 161 and 162. The power supply means 163 is a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  The interface 170 mediates exchange of information between the storage medium 180 and the system control circuit 140. The connector 171 connects the interface 170 and the storage medium 180. Specifically, the storage medium 180 is a memory card, a hard disk, or the like. The storage medium 180 is connected to the storage unit 175 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, etc., an interface 172 that mediates the exchange of information between the storage unit 175 and the main body of the digital camera 100, and the main body of the digital camera 100. And a connector 173. The storage medium attachment / detachment detection means 74 detects whether or not the storage medium 180 is attached to the connector 171.

  Note that the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment includes one interface 170 and a connector 171 for attaching the storage medium 180. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration including a plurality of interfaces and connectors for attaching the storage medium 180 may be adopted. In that case, a configuration having interfaces and connectors of different standards may be used.

  The interface 170 and the connector 171 may be configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF card, or the like that conforms to a standard. When the storage medium 180 is a PCMCIA standard card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like, an information storage circuit describing performance may be built in. Note that by connecting various communication cards to the connector 171, image data and management information attached to the image data can be transferred to and from other devices.

  The live view button 153, the image playback button 154, and the selection determination button 155 shown in FIG. 1 will be described next with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera 100. As shown in FIG. 2, in the digital camera 100, the Y-axis direction is a direction parallel to the optical axis (direction perpendicular to the imaging surface). The X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction are orthogonal to each other, both are parallel to the display surface of the image display unit 124, and are both orthogonal to the Y-axis direction.

  The posture of the digital camera 100 when the digital camera 100 is held with the shutter button 150 facing up is a normal position posture, and a direction parallel to the gravity direction in the digital camera 100 is a Z-axis direction. In other words, the Z-axis direction is the vertical direction when the digital camera 100 is held in the normal position (the short side direction of the display surface when the display surface of the image display unit 124 has a horizontally long aspect ratio).

  The posture of the digital camera 100 when the digital camera 100 is rotated 90 degrees around the Y axis (regardless of right rotation or left rotation) from the normal position posture is defined as the vertical position posture. A direction parallel to the direction is defined as an X-axis direction. In other words, the X-axis direction is the horizontal direction when the digital camera 100 is held in the normal position (or the longitudinal direction of the display surface when the display surface of the image display unit 124 has a horizontally long aspect ratio). The attitude detection unit 144 detects how much the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction are inclined with respect to the gravity direction.

  A live view button 153 provided on the back surface of the digital camera 100 is an operation means for instructing the start of the live view shooting mode. By pressing the live view button 153, the normal shooting mode and the live view shooting mode can be switched. The image reproduction button 154 is an operation unit for reading out image data stored in the image display memory 132 and displaying the image data on the image display unit 124. The selection decision button 155 is an operation means for performing selection and decision on the menu screen displayed on the display surface of the image display unit 124, and here, a cross-shaped four-way button is used. The selection determination button 155 is not limited to this, and other mechanisms such as an 8-direction movement button and a touch panel may be used.

<< First Embodiment of Shooting Operation of Digital Camera 100 >>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the first embodiment at the time of photographing by the digital camera 100. When the power button 164 is pressed while the main body of the digital camera 100 is turned off (start), the power is turned on via the system control circuit 140, and the normal shooting mode is set (step S301). Note that the live view shooting mode can be switched by pressing the live view button 153. In the first embodiment, the shooting mode may be either the normal shooting mode or the live view shooting mode.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the shutter switch SW1 has been pressed (step S302). If the shutter switch SW1 is not pressed (“NO” in S302), the state is kept waiting for the shutter switch SW1 to be pressed. When the shutter switch SW1 is pressed (“YES” in S302), the system control circuit 140 drives the autofocus and starts the shooting preparation operation such as the AE (automatic exposure) processing and the AWB (auto white balance) processing. An instruction is given (step S303).

  After step S303, it is determined whether or not the shutter switch SW2 has been pressed (step S304). If the shutter switch SW2 is pressed (“YES” in S304), the process proceeds to step S305. On the other hand, when the shutter switch SW2 is not pressed (“NO” in S304), it is determined whether or not the state where the shutter switch SW1 is pressed is held (step S306). If the shutter switch SW1 is held (“YES” in S306), the process returns to step S304. If the shutter switch SW1 is not held (“NO” in S306), the process returns to step S302.

  In step S305, an instruction to start a shooting operation is given, and shooting is performed. Specifically, an operation of an exposure process in which a signal read from the imaging unit 116 by the system control circuit 140 writes image data to the memory 130 via the A / D converter 120 and the memory control circuit 123 is started. Instructed. The system control circuit 140 also performs development processing using operations in the image processing circuit 122 and the memory control circuit 123, compression of image data read from the memory 130 in the compression / decompression circuit 133, and writing of image data to the storage medium 180. The operation start of a series of processes is instructed.

  Thereafter, whether or not an object (that is, a photographer) is detected is detected by the object detection unit 143 (step S307). If the photographer is detected (“YES” in S307), the image display unit 124 is turned off (step S309), and then the process returns to step S307. If the photographer is not detected (“NO” in S307), the captured image data is displayed as a quick review on the image display unit 124 (step S308).

  By displaying the quick review on the image display unit 124, the photographer can check whether there is no composition or focus shift. Since it is not necessary to continue displaying the quick review on the image display unit 124, when the quick review is displayed, the timing circuit 131 starts measuring a preset quick review display time.

  Along with the start of timing by the timing circuit 131, it is determined whether or not the shutter switch SW1 has been pressed (step S310). If the shutter switch SW1 is pressed (“YES” in S310), it is assumed that the photographer will re-shoot, so the quick review ends (step S312), and the process returns to step S303. If the shutter switch SW1 has not been pressed ("NO" in S310), since the quick review display time set in advance in step S308 has started, it is determined whether or not the quick review display time has elapsed. (Step S311).

  If the quick review display time has not elapsed (“NO” in S311), the process returns to step S310. When the quick review display time has elapsed (“YES” in S311), information related to the posture of the main body of the digital camera 100 is acquired by the posture detection means 144 (step S313). Then, it is determined whether or not the posture of the digital camera 100 is a preset posture (step S314).

  In the first embodiment, the “preset attitude” determined in step S314 is “an attitude in which the display surface of the image display unit 124 faces upward”. For example, the angle θ between the Y-axis direction and the gravitational direction is 0 degrees when the photographing lens 111 is directly below and the display surface of the image display unit 124 is directly above, and the photographing lens 111 is directly above and the image display. When the display surface of the part 124 is directly below, the angle is 180 degrees. For example, when the angle θ formed by the Y-axis direction and the gravity direction is −70 degrees ≦ θ ≦ 70 degrees, it can be determined that “the posture in which the display surface of the image display unit 124 faces upward”. This determination criterion can be used in both cases where the photographer holds the digital camera 100 in the normal position and the vertical position.

  When the photographer holds the digital camera 100 in the normal position posture, the operation of turning the display surface of the image display unit 124 upward rotates the digital camera 100 around the X axis so that the photographing lens 111 faces downward. It becomes operation to make. In the normal position posture, the angle η formed by the Z-axis direction and the gravity direction is 0 degree. Therefore, the digital camera 100 is rotated so that the photographing lens 111 faces downward, and the angle η formed by the Z-axis direction and the gravity direction is 20 ≦ η ≦ 160 degrees (η = 90 degrees to ± 70 degrees). Can be determined as “an attitude in which the display surface of the image display unit 124 faces upward”.

  When the photographer holds the digital camera 100 in the vertical position, the operation of turning the display surface of the image display unit 124 upward rotates the digital camera 100 about the Z axis so that the photographing lens 111 faces downward. It becomes the operation to make. In the vertical position posture, the angle ζ formed by the X-axis direction and the gravity direction is 0 degree. Therefore, the digital camera 100 is rotated so that the photographing lens 111 faces downward, and the angle ζ between the X-axis direction and the gravity direction is 20 ≦ ζ ≦ 160 degrees (in the range of ζ = 90 degrees to ± 70 degrees). Can be determined as “an attitude in which the display surface of the image display unit 124 faces upward”.

  The determination performed in step S314 as described above is referred to as “upward determination” in the following description, and “attitude in which the display surface of the image display unit 124 faces upward” is referred to as “display surface upward attitude”.

  If the display surface is not in the upward position (“NO” in S314), the quick review is terminated (step S318), and then the process returns to step S302. When the display surface is in the upward orientation (“YES” in S314), the quick review display time is extended (step S315). As a method for setting the display time for quick review, the photographer sets a method for setting N times (N = 2, 3, 4,...) The set quick review display time, or a preset extension time. The method of selecting and setting is mentioned. In step S315, the display time of the quick review is extended, and at the same time, the measurement of the display time of the quick review is started.

  After the quick review display time is extended in step S315, it is determined whether or not the shutter switch SW1 is pressed (step S316). If the shutter switch SW1 is pressed (“YES” in S316), the process returns to step S312 to end the quick review, and then the process returns to step S303. If the shutter switch SW1 is not pressed (“NO” in S316), it is determined whether or not the quick review display extension time has elapsed (step S317).

  If the quick review display extension time has not elapsed ("NO" in S317), the process returns to step S316. If the quick review display extension time has elapsed (“YES” in S317), the quick review is terminated (step S318), and then the process returns to step S302.

  For example, when the digital camera 100 is set to the live view shooting mode, the live view for shooting is resumed when the quick review is completed in step S318. On the other hand, in the case of the normal shooting mode, when the quick review ends in step S318, the image display unit 124 is turned off or a display related to the current shooting setting is displayed on the image display unit 124.

  In step S315 described above, the quick review display time is extended by a certain time. However, as a method of extension, the quick review may be held. In this case, the timer for ending the quick review is not counted, and the quick review is not performed until there is an operation to end the quick review or power saving functions such as auto power off and auto display off are activated. Retained. Examples of operations for ending the quick review include pressing the shutter switch SW1, turning off the power of the digital camera 100, and changing the shooting mode.

  In the first embodiment, the quick review is extended when the digital camera 100 has a display surface upward posture in which the display surface of the image display unit 124 faces upward. This is because, when the photographer confirms the quick review immediately after shooting, the posture of the digital camera 100 that is set to the normal position posture or the vertical position posture at the time of shooting is changed so that the display surface of the image display unit 124 faces upward. This is because it is often done. That is, while the digital camera 100 is in the upward orientation on the display surface, it is assumed that the photographer is confirming the photographed image, and the quick review is extended. Thus, the photographer can confirm the quick review for an appropriate time as necessary without being aware of the display time of the quick review.

  The reason why the digital camera 100 is often placed on the display surface upward at the time of confirming the quick review is as follows. That is, especially in interchangeable lens digital cameras such as single-lens reflex cameras, the lens part is heavy, so the digital camera can be held stably by turning the lens part downward, making quick review confirmation easy. Because it becomes. Therefore, the above-described effect can be obtained more effectively by applying the first embodiment to an imaging apparatus such as a lens-interchangeable digital camera.

  In step S314, it is determined whether or not the display surface is in the upward orientation, but instead, it may be determined whether or not the lens unit including the photographic lens 111 is directed downward (gravity direction). The angle setting in this case conforms to the angle setting in the case where the display screen is in the upward orientation.

  In addition, when the display time of the quick review is extended and the posture of the digital camera 100 is no longer “upward on the display surface”, it is assumed that the quick review has been confirmed by the photographer and the quick review is terminated. Also good. Specifically, even if it is determined in step S317 that the set time has not elapsed, if it is determined that the posture of the digital camera 100 is not the “display surface upward posture”, the process may proceed to step S318.

<< Second Embodiment of Shooting Operation of Digital Camera 100 >>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the second embodiment at the time of photographing by the digital camera 100. The flowchart of FIG. 4 will be described below. Among the processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the same processes as those described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. To do.

  The processing in steps S401 to S406 in the operation according to the second embodiment is the same as the processing in steps S301 to S306 in the operation according to the first embodiment. In the operation according to the second embodiment, the posture of the main body of the digital camera 100 is detected during the photographing process in step S405 (that is, when the photographing process is instructed by the photographing operation instruction unit 152) (step S407). ). This step S407 is hereinafter referred to as “first detection step” as appropriate. Data relating to the posture detected in the first detection step is stored in the memory 130, read from the memory 130 in step S415, which will be described later, and used in the processing in step S415.

  The processing in steps S408 to S414 in the operation according to the second embodiment is the same as the processing in steps S307 to S313 in the operation according to the first embodiment. Since the posture of the main body of the digital camera 100 is once detected in step S407, the detection of the posture of the main body of the digital camera 100 in step S414 is a second detection step.

  In the first embodiment, after step S313, it is determined whether or not the digital camera 100 is in the display surface upward orientation. On the other hand, in 2nd Embodiment, in step S415 after step S414, between the attitude | position of the digital camera 100 acquired by step S407 (1st detection step) and step S414 (2nd detection step), respectively. Whether or not there is a difference is determined.

  If there is a difference in attitude of the digital camera 100 (“YES” in S415), the process proceeds to step S416. If there is no difference in attitude of the digital camera 100 (“NO” in S415), the process proceeds to step S419. It is done. The processing in steps S416 to S419 in the operation according to the second embodiment is the same as the processing in steps S315 to S318 in the operation according to the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, whether or not the quick review is being confirmed is determined depending on whether or not the posture of the digital camera 100 is different between shooting and quick review confirmation, and the quick review is automatically extended. It is determined whether or not to do so. Therefore, even if the photographer is not using the digital camera 100 in the normal position (or vertical position) at the time of shooting, the quick review is automatically extended if the quick review is being confirmed. Examples of the posture other than the normal position posture (or the vertical position posture) include a posture when the photographer is lying down and using the digital camera 100.

  If the posture of the digital camera 100 returns to the same posture as detected in S407 during the extension of the quick review display time, it is assumed that the quick review has been confirmed by the photographer and the quick review is terminated. It is good also as a structure. Specifically, even if it is determined in step S418 that the set time has not elapsed, if it is determined that the difference between the attitude of the digital camera 100 at that time and the attitude detected in step S407 is equal to or less than a threshold value, step S419 is performed. It is good also as a structure which progresses to.

<< Schematic Illustration of Relationship between Operation of Main Body of Digital Camera 100 and Operation of Image Display Unit 124 in First and Second Embodiments >>
FIG. 5 is a side view schematically showing the relationship between the operation of the main body of the digital camera 100 and the operation of the image display unit 124 according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the normal shooting mode, the photographer looks into the optical viewfinder 210 and shoots while confirming the composition. As long as the photographer brings his / her face close to the optical viewfinder 210 by the object detection means 143 provided at the lower part of the optical viewfinder 210 after shooting, quick review is not performed on the image display unit 124 (FIG. 5A). ).

  Thereafter, when the object detection unit 143 no longer detects the photographer's face, a quick review of the captured image is performed on the image display unit 124 (FIG. 5B), and at the same time, a quick review preset by the timing circuit 131 is performed. The display time is started. When the quick review display time is set to “2 seconds”, for example, in the first embodiment, after 2 seconds, it is determined whether the digital camera 100 is in the display surface upward posture. The display time is extended (FIG. 5C). On the other hand, in the second embodiment, it is determined whether there is a difference between the posture of the digital camera 100 at the time of shooting and the posture of the digital camera 100 two seconds after the start of the quick review. If there is a difference, the quick review display time is extended. (FIG. 5C). By extending the quick review display time, the photographer can sufficiently check the image for each shot.

  The quick review is used for confirming the photographed image, and therefore does not need to be continuously displayed. Therefore, when the quick review display extension time elapses, the quick review ends (FIG. 5D). If the shutter switch SW1 is pressed during the elapse of the quick review display extension time, the quick review is terminated in order to shift to the shooting preparation operation.

<< Third Embodiment of Operation of Digital Camera 100 During Shooting >>
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, whether to extend the quick review display time is determined based on the attitude of the digital camera 100, but in the third embodiment, it is digitally determined whether to start the quick review. The determination is made based on the posture of the camera 100. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the third embodiment at the time of photographing with the digital camera 100.

  The shooting in step S601 is the same as the shooting in step S305 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, and here, the shooting in step S601 includes the processing in steps S301 to S306. Therefore, details of these processes have already been described in detail, and a description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, the tripod mode setting means 146 determines whether or not the tripod is used (that is, whether or not the tripod mode is set) (step S602). If the tripod is used (“YES” in S602), the process proceeds to step S606. If the tripod is not used (“NO” in S602), posture information of the digital camera 100 is acquired by the posture detection unit 144 ( Step S603).

  After step S603, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the end of shooting in step S601 (that is, when the shot image was stored in the memory 130) (step S604). The fixed time measured in step S604 may be set as a default in the digital camera 100, for example, or may be set in advance by the photographer. When the predetermined time has elapsed (“YES” in S604), the process proceeds to step S609, and in step S609, the digital camera 100 is maintained in a shooting standby state. If the predetermined time has not elapsed (“NO” in S604), it is determined whether or not the digital camera 100 is in the upward orientation on the display surface based on the posture information of the digital camera 100 acquired in step S703 ( Step S605).

  The process of step S605 is the same as the process of step S314 described with reference to FIG. 3, and in the case of the display screen upward orientation (“YES” in S605), a quick review is displayed on the image display unit 124 (step S605). S606). On the other hand, when the display surface is not in the upward orientation (“NO” in S605), the process returns to step S603.

  The processing in step S606 is the same as the processing in step S308 described with reference to FIG. 3. When the quick review is displayed in step S606, the timer circuit 131 counts the preset quick review display time. Is started. Since the processing after step S607 is the same as the processing after step S309 described with reference to FIG. 3, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the quick review is not performed until the digital camera 100 is in a posture for confirming the quick review. This prevents unnecessary quick reviews when performing continuous shooting, etc., so that the photographer can perform continuous shooting without feeling bothersome, and wastes battery power. It can also prevent consumption.

  If the shutter switch SW1 is operated before it is determined in step S604 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the shooting standby operation is immediately started. Further, in the process of FIG. 6, the process after step S607 may be replaced with the process after step S411 shown in FIG. Similarly to the first embodiment, if the posture of the digital camera 100 is not “upward on the display surface” during the extension of the display time of the quick review, it is considered that the quick review has been confirmed by the photographer. The quick review may be terminated.

<< 4th Embodiment of operation | movement at the time of imaging | photography of the digital camera 100 >>
In the fourth embodiment, whether or not to start a quick review is determined based on whether or not the attitude of the digital camera 100 has changed since imaging. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the fourth embodiment at the time of photographing by the digital camera 100.

  The photographing in step S701 is the same as the photographing in step S305 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, and here, the photographing in step S701 includes the processing in steps S301 to S306. Since details of these processes have already been described in detail, description thereof will be omitted here.

  Next, the tripod mode setting means 146 determines whether or not a tripod is used (step S702). If the tripod is used (“YES” in S702), the process proceeds to step S706 described later. If the tripod is not used (“NO” in S702), posture information of the digital camera 100 is acquired by the posture detection unit 144. (Step S703).

  After step S703, the time counting circuit 131 determines whether or not a certain time has elapsed since the end of shooting in step S701 (step S704). The fixed time measured in step S704 may be set as a default for the digital camera 100 or may be set in advance by the photographer. If the predetermined time has elapsed (“YES” in S704), the process proceeds to step S709, and in step S709, the digital camera 100 is maintained in the shooting standby state. If the predetermined time has not elapsed (“NO” in S704), it is determined whether or not the posture of the digital camera 100 has changed from the posture detected in Step S703 (Step S705).

  The determination in step S705 can be performed based on whether or not the physical quantity detected by the posture detection unit 144 in step S705 has a change equal to or greater than a predetermined value with respect to the physical quantity detected by the posture detection unit 144 in step S703. it can. If there is a change in the attitude of the digital camera 100 (“YES” in S705), a quick review is displayed on the image display unit 124 (step S706). On the other hand, if there is no change in the attitude of the digital camera 100 (“NO” in S705), the process returns to step S703.

  The processing in step S706 is the same as the processing in step S308 described with reference to FIG. 3, and when the quick review is displayed in step S706, the timer circuit 131 counts the preset quick review display time. Is started. Since the processing after step S706 is the same as the processing after step S409 in FIG. 4, detailed description thereof is omitted here. Note that if the shutter switch SW1 is operated before it is determined in step S704 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the shooting standby operation is immediately started.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, if the posture of the digital camera 100 does not change from the time of shooting, the quick review is not performed. This prevents unnecessary quick reviews when performing continuous shooting, etc., so that the photographer can perform continuous shooting without feeling bothersome, and wastes battery power. It can also prevent consumption. In the fourth embodiment, it is possible to cope with photographing where the photographer does not use the digital camera 100 in the normal position posture or the vertical position posture.

  As in the second embodiment, when the display time of the quick review is extended and the posture of the digital camera 100 returns to the same posture as detected in step S703, the quick review is not confirmed by the photographer. It may be configured that the quick review is terminated by assuming that

<< Schematic Illustration of Relationship Between Operation of Main Body of Digital Camera 100 and Operation of Image Display Unit 124 in Third and Fourth Embodiments >>
FIG. 8 is a side view schematically showing the relationship between the operation of the main body of the digital camera 100 and the operation of the image display unit 124 according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In the normal shooting mode, the photographer looks into the optical viewfinder 210 and shoots while confirming the composition. At that time, the quick review is not displayed on the image display unit 124 (FIG. 8A). Thereafter, in the third embodiment, when the digital camera 100 is in an attitude determined to be an upward-facing display surface, a quick review is displayed on the image display unit 124 (FIG. 7B). On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, when there is a change in the posture of the digital camera 100 at the quick review timing with respect to the posture of the digital camera 100 at the time of shooting, the quick review is displayed on the image display unit 124 (FIG. 8). (B)).

  According to the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment, the quick review display is started when the photographer moves his / her face away from the optical viewfinder 210 and tilts the digital camera 100 after shooting. Thereby, even a digital camera that does not include the object detection unit 143 can sufficiently check the image by quick review.

  Further, when the image confirmation is unnecessary, the quick review is not displayed based on the detection result of the posture detection unit 144, so that power consumption can be reduced and the photographing preparation operation can be shortened. Further, since the quick review display time can be extended, the photographer can sufficiently check the photographed image for each photographing.

<< Other Embodiments >>
As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these specific embodiment, Various forms of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are also contained in this invention. Moreover, each embodiment mentioned above only shows one Embodiment of this invention, It is also possible to combine each embodiment suitably. For example, the control performed by the system control circuit 140 may be performed by one hardware, or may be performed by a plurality of hardware sharing the processing.

  The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the imaging apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the imaging apparatus reads and executes the program code. It is processing. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Digital camera 116 Image pick-up part 124 Image display part 140 System control circuit 145 Quick review control part 144 Posture detection means 152 Image pick-up operation instruction means 210 Viewfinder

Claims (10)

An imaging device comprising an imaging means for capturing an image,
Instruction means for instructing storage in the storage means of the image taken by the imaging means;
Display means having a display surface and displaying an image stored in the storage means on the display surface;
Posture detection means for detecting the posture of the main body of the imaging device;
A quick review for controlling the display of the image on the display surface during a quick review in which the image stored in the storage means is displayed on the display surface immediately after the image is captured for a predetermined display time. Control means,
The quick review control means extends the display time when the attitude detection means detects that the attitude of the main body is an attitude in which the display surface faces upward when the display time has elapsed. An imaging device that is characterized. An imaging device comprising an imaging means for capturing an image,
Instruction means for instructing storage in the storage means of the image taken by the imaging means;
Display means for displaying an image stored in the storage means by the instruction means;
Posture detection means for detecting the posture of the main body of the imaging device;
Quick review control for controlling display of the image on the display means during a quick review in which an image stored in the storage means is displayed on the display means immediately after the image is captured for a predetermined display time. Means, and
The quick review control means includes the posture detection means when the posture of the main body detected by the posture detection means and the display time have elapsed when an image photographed by the imaging means is stored in the storage means. When there is a difference between the posture of the main body detected by (2), the display time is extended.   The posture detection means determines that the posture of the main body is a posture in which the display surface faces upward when a predetermined time has elapsed since the image taken by the imaging means is stored in the storage means. 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when detected, the quick review control unit starts a quick review of the image. 4.   The posture detection unit detects the image when the image is stored in the storage unit when a predetermined time has elapsed since the image captured by the imaging unit is stored in the storage unit. If there is a difference between the posture of the main body and the posture of the main body detected by the posture detection means when the predetermined time has elapsed, the quick review control means starts a quick review of the image. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A control method executed by an imaging device including an imaging means for capturing an image,
An imaging step of storing an image captured by the imaging unit in a storage unit;
Immediately after shooting by the shooting step, a display step of displaying an image stored in the storage unit on a display surface of the display unit for a predetermined display time;
A detection step of detecting a posture of the main body of the imaging device when the display time has elapsed;
A determination step of determining the posture of the main body detected in the detection step;
And a extending step of extending the display time when it is determined in the determining step that the display surface is in an upward orientation. A control method executed by an imaging device including an imaging means for capturing an image,
An imaging step of storing an image captured by the imaging unit in a storage unit;
A first detection step of detecting the posture of the main body of the imaging device during the photographing step;
A display step of displaying an image stored in the storage unit on a display unit for a predetermined display time immediately after shooting by the shooting step;
A second detection step of detecting the posture of the main body when the display time has elapsed;
A determination step of determining whether or not there is a difference in the posture of the main body detected in the first detection step and the second detection step;
An extension step of extending the display time when it is determined that there is the difference in the determination step. A program that causes a computer to execute a control method of an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that captures an image,
The control method is:
An imaging step of storing an image captured by the imaging unit in a storage unit;
Immediately after shooting by the shooting step, a display step of displaying an image stored in the storage unit on a display surface of the display unit for a predetermined display time;
A detection step of detecting a posture of the main body of the imaging device when the display time has elapsed;
A determination step of determining the posture of the main body detected in the detection step;
An extension step of extending the display time when it is determined in the determination step that the display surface is in an upward orientation. A program that causes a computer to execute a control method of an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that captures an image,
The control method is:
An imaging step of storing an image captured by the imaging unit in a storage unit;
A first detection step of detecting the posture of the main body of the imaging device during the photographing step;
A display step of displaying an image stored in the storage unit on a display unit for a predetermined display time immediately after shooting by the shooting step;
A second detection step of detecting the posture of the main body when the display time has elapsed;
A determination step of determining whether or not there is a difference in the posture of the main body detected in the first detection step and the second detection step;
An extension step of extending the display time when it is determined in the determination step that the difference exists.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 7.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 8.

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