JP2012165157A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To reduce the possibility of missing a photo opportunity and to stably place it on a desk or the like immediately after switching to a reproduction mode.
A lens barrel capable of transitioning between an extended state in which the optical system projects from the front surface of the housing and a retracted state in which the optical system is accommodated in the housing, and a lens barrel in the extended state An image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject formed through the optical system and outputting image information, a posture detection means for detecting the posture of the housing, and a mode setting section for switching an operation mode between a shooting mode and a playback mode When the mode setting unit sets the operation mode to the shooting mode, the lens barrel is shifted to the extended state, the mode setting unit sets the operation mode to the reproduction mode, and the lens barrel is in the extended state and the posture. A collapsible control unit that causes the lens barrel to transition to the collapsed state when the detection unit detects that the front surface of the housing is facing downward.
[Selection] Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus capable of capturing still images and moving images, and to an imaging apparatus having a reproduction function.

  An imaging device such as a digital camera is known in which a lens barrel is extended and protrudes from a camera casing at the time of shooting, and the lens barrel is housed in the casing at the time of reproduction ( For example, see Patent Document 1.) According to Patent Document 1, in such a first conventional imaging apparatus, when the camera is switched to the shooting mode, the lens barrel is drawn out and becomes ready for shooting, whereas when the camera is switched to the reproduction mode, the lens barrel is moved. Stored.

  Further, as a second conventional imaging device, there is a configuration in which the lens barrel is accommodated after a lapse of a certain time after the imaging device is switched from the shooting mode to the reproduction mode. According to the second conventional imaging apparatus, when the operation is performed to switch to the playback mode after shooting to check the recorded image and to switch to the shooting mode again within a predetermined time, the lens barrel remains extended. It becomes. Therefore, there is no need to extend the lens barrel when switching to the photographing mode again, and photographing can be resumed quickly.

JP 2007-235980 A

  The second conventional photographing apparatus houses the lens after a predetermined time has elapsed since switching to the reproduction mode. That is, a certain time is required until the lens barrel is stored. For this reason, if an attempt is made to place the photographing device with the lens facing downward (the front surface of the imaging device facing downward) within a certain period of time, the lens barrel will be in the way because the lens barrel has not yet been accommodated. There is a problem that it cannot be placed in a stable state. Further, when the lens barrel is stored immediately after switching to the playback mode as in the first conventional imaging device, it takes time to extend the lens barrel again when switching to the shooting mode, It takes time until shooting is possible. For this reason, there was a possibility of missing a photo opportunity.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, to reduce the possibility of missing a photo opportunity, and to provide an imaging apparatus that can be stably placed on a desk or the like immediately after switching to a reproduction mode. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing constituting an exterior and an optical system, and is provided on the front surface of the housing, and the optical system protrudes from the front surface of the housing. Captures the subject image formed through the optical system of the lens barrel that can be changed between the retracted state in which the system is housed in the housing and the lens barrel that is in the extended state, and outputs image information A mode setting unit that switches an operation mode between an imaging unit, a posture detection unit that detects a posture of the housing, a shooting mode in which the imaging unit performs imaging, and another mode in which the imaging unit does not perform imaging, and a mode When the setting unit sets the operation mode to the shooting mode, the lens barrel is shifted to the extended state, the mode setting unit sets the operation mode to another mode, the lens barrel is in the extended state, and the posture is detected. Stage and a collapsing control unit to transition the lens barrel in the collapsed state when the front surface of the housing is detected to be down.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus that can reduce the possibility of missing a photo opportunity and can be stably placed on a desk or the like immediately after switching to the reproduction mode.

Front view of digital camera 100 according to Embodiment 1 1 is a rear configuration diagram of the digital camera 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. Electrical configuration diagram of digital camera 100 according to Embodiment 1 A flowchart showing mode switching processing of digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment. 7 is a flowchart showing processing in the shooting mode of the digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment. 7 is a flowchart showing processing in the playback mode of the digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment.

[Embodiment 1]
The digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment detects the attitude of the digital camera when performing the lens collapse process in the reproduction mode, and performs the collapse control based on the attitude information. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the digital camera 100 will be described.

[1. Configuration of Digital Camera 100]
Hereinafter, the configuration of the digital camera 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 includes a lens barrel 108 that houses the optical system 110 on the front surface of the housing 105 and a flash 160. The lens barrel 108 can change the state between an extended state in which the optical system 110 protrudes from the front surface of the housing 105 and a retracted state in which the optical system 110 is housed in the housing 105. The lens barrel 108 is driven by a motor (not shown) and can transition between the extended state and the retracted state.

  The digital camera 100 also includes operation buttons such as a still image release button 201, a zoom lever 202, and a power button 203 on the upper surface of the housing 105.

  FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 includes operation buttons such as a liquid crystal monitor 123, a center button 204, a cross button 205, and a mode switch 207 on the rear surface of the housing 105.

  FIG. 3 is an electrical configuration diagram of the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 captures a subject image formed via the optical system 110 with the CCD image sensor 120. The CCD image sensor 120 generates image information based on the captured subject image. The image information generated by the imaging is subjected to various processes in an AFE (analog front end) 121 and an image processing unit 122. The generated image information is recorded in the flash memory 142 or the memory card 140. In the following description, it is assumed that the image information is recorded on the memory card 140. The image information recorded on the memory card 140 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 123 in response to an operation of the operation unit 150 by the user. Details of the components shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described below.

  The optical system 110 includes a focus lens 111, a zoom lens 112, a diaphragm 113, a shutter 114, and the like. Although not shown, the optical system 110 may include an optical image stabilization lens OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer). The various lenses constituting the optical system 110 may be composed of any number of lenses or any number of groups.

  The focus lens 111 is used to adjust the focus state of the subject. The zoom lens 112 is used to adjust the angle of view of the subject. The diaphragm 113 is used to adjust the amount of light incident on the CCD image sensor 120. The shutter 114 adjusts the exposure time of light incident on the CCD image sensor 120. The focus lens 111, the zoom lens 112, the diaphragm 113, and the shutter 114 are driven in accordance with control signals notified from the controller 130 by corresponding driving means such as a DC motor and a stepping motor.

  The CCD image sensor 120 includes a plurality of pixels, captures a subject image formed through the optical system 110, and generates image information. The CCD image sensor 120 can generate image information of a new frame at regular intervals when the digital camera 100 is in the shooting mode.

  In AFE (Analog Front End) 121, noise suppression by correlated double sampling is performed on image information read from the CCD image sensor 120, amplification to an input range width of the A / D converter by an analog gain controller, A / D A / D conversion is performed by the converter. Thereafter, the AFE 121 outputs the image information to the image processing unit 122.

  The image processing unit 122 performs various processes on the image information output from the AFE 121. Examples of various processes include, but are not limited to, smear correction, white balance correction, gamma correction, YC conversion process, electronic zoom process, reduction process, compression process, and expansion process. The image processing unit 122 stores the image information subjected to various processes in the buffer memory 124. The image processing unit 122 may be configured by a hard-wired electronic circuit or may be realized by a microcomputer executing a program. Further, it may be constituted by one semiconductor chip together with the controller 130 or the like.

  The liquid crystal monitor 123 is provided on the back of the digital camera 100. The liquid crystal monitor 123 displays an image based on the image information processed by the image processing unit 122. The image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 123 includes a through image and a recorded image. The through image is an image of a new frame displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 123 and generated by the CCD image sensor 120 at regular intervals. Normally, the CCD image sensor 120 generates through image information when the digital camera 100 is in the shooting mode. The image processing unit 122 performs a predetermined process on the generated through image information, and the liquid crystal monitor 123 displays a through image based on the image information. The user can take a picture while confirming the composition of the subject by referring to the through image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 123. The recorded image is an image that has been reduced to low pixels by the image processing unit 122 in order to display the high-pixel recorded image information recorded on the memory card 140 or the like on the liquid crystal monitor 123 when the digital camera 100 is in the playback mode. It is an image displayed based on information. Note that the high-pixel recorded image information recorded on the memory card 140 or the like is received by the image processing unit 122 based on the image information generated by the CCD image sensor 120 after accepting an operation of the still image release button 201 by the user. Generated.

  The controller 130 controls the overall operation of the digital camera 100. In addition, the controller 130 records the image information processed by the image processing unit 122 and stored in the buffer memory 124 as recording image information on a recording medium such as the memory card 140.

  The controller 130 includes a mode setting unit 131 and a retracting control unit 132. The mode setting unit 131 detects the state of a mode switch 207 (described later), and switches the operation mode of the digital camera to either the shooting mode or the playback mode. The retractable control unit 132 drives the motor of the lens barrel 108 to change the lens barrel 108 between the extended state and the retracted state.

  The controller 130 includes a ROM that stores information such as a program, and a CPU that processes various types of information by executing the program. The ROM stores a program for overall control of the entire operation of the digital camera 100, in addition to programs related to file control, autofocus control (AF control), automatic exposure control (AE control), and flash 160 light emission control. .

  The controller 130 may be configured with a hard-wired electronic circuit or a microcomputer. Further, it may be constituted by one semiconductor chip together with the image processing unit 122 and the like. The ROM does not have to be an internal configuration of the controller 130 and may be provided outside the controller 130.

  The buffer memory 124 is a storage unit that functions as a work memory for the image processing unit 122 and the controller 130. The buffer memory 124 can be realized by a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or the like. The flash memory 142 functions as an internal memory for recording image information and the like.

  The card slot 141 is a connection means that allows the memory card 140 to be attached and detached. The card slot 141 can connect the memory card 140 electrically and mechanically. The card slot 141 may have a function of controlling the memory card 140.

  The memory card 140 is an external memory provided with a recording unit such as a flash memory. The memory card 140 can record data such as image information processed by the image processing unit 122.

  The operation unit 150 is a general term for operation buttons and operation dials provided on the exterior of the digital camera 100, and accepts an operation by a user. For example, the still image release button 201, the zoom lever 202, the power button 203, the center button 204, the cross button 205, the mode switch 207, and the like shown in FIGS. When the operation unit 150 receives an operation by the user, the operation unit 150 notifies the controller 130 of various operation instruction signals.

  The posture sensor 170 is a type of sensor that converts a physical quantity into an electrical signal, detects an angle (posture) relative to the gravity direction (vertical direction) of the optical axis direction of the optical system 110 included in the digital camera 100, This angle is output as posture information. The orientation sensor 170 may use an acceleration sensor, or may detect the orientation using other sensors or a combination thereof. Further, the attitude sensor 170 may transmit signals as analog signals to the controller 130 or may transmit signals as digital signals.

  The still image release button 201 is a two-stage push button that is half pressed and fully pressed. When the still image release button 201 is half-pressed by the user, the controller 130 executes AF (Auto Focus) control or AE (Auto Exposure) control to determine the shooting condition. Subsequently, when the still image release button 201 is fully pressed by the user, the controller 130 records the image information captured at the timing of the full press on the memory card 140 or the like as a still image. Hereinafter, when it is described that the still image release button 201 is simply pressed, it indicates full press.

  The zoom lever 202 is a center-position self-returning lever for adjusting the angle of view between the wide-angle end and the telephoto end. When operated by the user, the zoom lever 202 notifies the controller 130 of an operation instruction signal for driving the zoom lens 112. That is, when the zoom lever 202 is operated to the wide angle end side, the controller 130 drives the zoom lens 112 so that the subject can be captured at a wide angle. Similarly, when the zoom lever 202 is operated to the telephoto end side, the controller 130 drives the zoom lens 112 so that the subject can be captured at telephoto.

  The power button 203 is a push-down button for turning on / off the power supply to each part constituting the digital camera 100. When the power button 203 is pressed by the user when the power is turned off, the controller 130 supplies power to each unit constituting the digital camera 100 and activates it. When the power button 203 is pressed by the user when the power is turned on, the controller 130 stops the power supply to each unit.

  The center button 204 is a push button. When the center button 204 is pressed by the user while the digital camera 100 is in the shooting mode or the playback mode, the controller 130 displays a menu screen on the liquid crystal monitor 123. The menu screen is a screen for setting various conditions for shooting / playback. When pressed when a setting item for various conditions is selected, the center button 204 also functions as an enter button.

  The cross button 205 is a push-type button provided in the vertical and horizontal directions. The user can select various condition items displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 123 by pressing any direction of the cross button 205.

  The mode change switch 207 is a slide switch provided in the vertical direction. The user can switch the operation mode of the digital camera 100 between the shooting mode and the playback mode by sliding the mode switch 207 in either direction.

  The CCD image sensor 120 is an example of an imaging unit. The controller 130 is an example of mode setting means. The controller 130 is an example of a retracting control unit. The attitude sensor 170 is an example of an attitude detection unit.

[2. Operation)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the mode switching process of the digital camera 100. When the digital camera 100 is turned on by the user operating the power button 203, the mode setting unit 131 first determines the current operation mode based on the direction of the mode switch 207 (step S401). Switch the mode to either shooting mode or playback mode. In the shooting mode (“shooting mode” in step S401), the operation proceeds to the shooting mode (step S403). In the photographing mode, the lens barrel 108 is first set in the extended state and then shifted to a standby state. Details of the operation in the shooting mode will be described later. In the shooting mode, when the user switches the operation mode to the playback mode or the power button 203 is operated, the shooting mode is terminated and the process proceeds to step S405. On the other hand, in the reproduction mode (“reproduction mode” in step S401), the operation proceeds to the reproduction mode (step S404). The digital camera 100 controls the retracting timing of the lens barrel in order to improve the user-friendliness during reproduction. Details of the operation in the playback mode will be described later. In the playback mode, when the user switches the operation mode to the shooting mode or the power button 203 is operated, the playback mode is terminated and the process proceeds to step S405. In step S405, the controller 130 determines whether or not the power button 203 has been operated. If it is determined that the power button 203 has been operated (“Yes” in step S405), the controller 130 ends the power supply to each unit after performing a predetermined end process, and the digital camera 100 is turned off. On the other hand, when it is determined that the power button 203 has not been operated (“No” in step S405), the process returns to step S401 again to repeat the process.

[2-1 Operation in shooting mode]
A shooting mode of the digital camera 100 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing in the shooting mode of the digital camera 100. From the state in which the digital camera 100 is turned on, the user operates the mode switch 207 to the shooting mode side (or the power button 203 is pressed while the power is off and the mode switch 207 is in the shooting mode side. When operated, the controller 130 controls each unit, switches the operation mode of the digital camera 100 to the photographing mode, and performs the lens barrel extension operation (step S501). Specifically, if the lens barrel 108 is not in the extended state, the retractable control unit 132 extends the lens barrel 108 to the extended state.

  Thereafter, the controller 130 controls each unit to display a through image on the liquid crystal monitor 123 and shifts to a standby state (step S502). Specifically, in the shooting mode, the CCD image sensor 120 performs an imaging operation and outputs through image information. The AFE 121 and the image processing unit 122 sequentially process the through image information output from the CCD image sensor 120. The liquid crystal monitor 123 displays the through image information output from the image processing unit 122 as a through image. In the shooting mode, a state in which a user operation can be accepted while displaying a through image is referred to as a standby state.

  In the standby state, the controller 130 determines whether or not the still image release button 201 has been pressed (step S503). If it is determined that the still image release button 201 has been pressed (“Yes” in step S503), the captured image information is recorded (step S505). Specifically, the image processing unit 122 performs the above-described processing on the image information captured by the CCD image sensor 120. Thereafter, the controller 130 records the image information on the memory card 140. When the recording process ends, the process returns to the standby state in step S502 again.

  If it is determined that the still image release button 201 has not been pressed (“No” in step S503), it is then determined whether or not to end the shooting mode (step S504). Specifically, when the mode switch 207 is operated to the playback mode side or the power button 203 is operated by the user, it is determined that the shooting mode is ended (“Yes” in step S504), and the shooting mode operation is performed. Exit. Otherwise (“No” in step S504), the process returns to the standby state in step S502 again.

[2-2 Operation in playback mode]
Next, the operation during reproduction will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing in the playback mode of the digital camera 100. From the state in which the digital camera 100 is turned on, the user operates the mode switch 207 to the playback mode side (or the power button 203 is pressed while the power is off and the mode switch 207 is in the playback mode side. The controller 130 controls each unit to switch the operation mode of the digital camera 100 to the playback mode. In the playback mode, the controller 130 reads out the image information recorded on the memory card 140 and controls each unit so as to display it on the liquid crystal monitor 123 (step S601). At this time, processing for selecting image information to be displayed is performed in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 150 by the user.

  Next, the retractable control unit 132 determines whether or not the lens barrel 108 is retracted (step S602). If the lens barrel 108 is already retracted (“Yes” in step S602), the process proceeds to step S606. If the lens barrel 108 is not retracted (ie, is in the extended state) (“No” in step S602), then the controller 130 determines whether the body posture is downward based on the posture information from the posture sensor 170. Is determined (step S603). Here, “downward” refers to a state in which the absolute value of the relative angle of the optical axis direction of the optical system 110 with respect to the gravitational direction (vertical direction) is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value. If it is determined from the posture information that the digital camera 100 is facing downward (“Yes” in step S603), the lens barrel 108 is retracted (step S605), and the process proceeds to step S606. If it is determined from the posture information that the digital camera 100 is not facing downward (“No” in step S603), then the controller 130 checks the elapsed time since the digital camera 100 was switched to the playback mode (step S604). If a certain time (for example, 15 seconds) has elapsed (“Yes” in step S604), the lens barrel 108 is retracted (step S605), and the process proceeds to step S606. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (“No” in step S604), the process proceeds to step S606.

  In step S606, it is determined whether or not to end the reproduction mode. Specifically, when the mode switch 207 is operated to the shooting mode side or the power button 203 is operated by the user, it is determined that the playback mode is ended (“Yes” in step S606), and the playback mode operation is performed. Exit. Otherwise (“No” in step S606), the process returns to step S601 again to continue the operation in the playback mode.

  As described above, even when the digital camera 100 shifts to the reproduction mode, the lens barrel 108 is not retracted until a predetermined time elapses. Thus, for example, when the recorded image information is confirmed by switching to the reproduction mode and then immediately switched to the photographing mode (before the retracting operation is performed), the retracting operation and the extending operation of the lens barrel 108 are performed. I will not. Therefore, there is no need to wait for the completion of the feeding operation, and the photographing can be performed immediately, so that the possibility of missing a photo opportunity can be reduced.

  On the other hand, the lens barrel 108 is retracted as soon as the digital camera 100 is turned downward, even before a predetermined time has elapsed. Accordingly, when the user tries to place the digital camera 100 face down on a desk or the like, the lens barrel 108 is retracted. Therefore, even when the digital camera 100 is faced down, the digital camera 100 can be placed in a stable state. There is an advantage that the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor is easy to see.

  As described above, according to the digital camera 100, it is possible to reduce the possibility of missing a photo opportunity, and to stably put it on a desk or the like immediately after switching to the reproduction mode.

[3. Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various embodiments are conceivable. Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be described together.

  In the above embodiment, the image processing unit 122 and the controller 130 have been described as having the functions and configurations described above. However, the image processing unit 122 and the controller 130 may be configured so that a part of each function and configuration is included in the other. Good.

  In the embodiment described above, the CCD image sensor 120 is used as the image sensor, but the image sensor is not limited to this. For example, in the present invention, instead of the CCD image sensor 120, other imaging elements such as a CMOS image sensor and an NMOS image sensor may be used. The still image release button 201 may use other means such as an operation using a touch panel provided on the liquid crystal monitor 123.

  In the above embodiment, the playback image display timing in step S601 is immediately after the start of the playback mode operation, but it may be processed at other timings, such as after a series of collapsing operation determinations.

  The imaging apparatus of the present invention can be applied to a digital still camera, a movie camera, a mobile phone, and the like that can capture and reproduce an image.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Digital camera 105 Case 108 Lens barrel 110 Optical system 111 Focus lens 112 Zoom lens 113 Aperture 114 Shutter 120 CCD image sensor 121 AFE (Analog front end)
122 image processing unit 123 liquid crystal monitor 124 buffer memory 130 controller 131 mode setting unit 132 collapsible control unit 140 memory card 141 card slot 142 flash memory 150 operation unit 160 flash 170 attitude sensor 201 still image release button 202 zoom lever 203 power button 204 center Button 205 Cross-shaped button 207 Mode selector switch

Claims (2)

A housing constituting the exterior;
It has an optical system and is provided on the front surface of the housing. The state transitions between a retracted state in which the optical system projects from the front surface of the housing and a retracted state in which the optical system is housed in the housing. A lens barrel that is possible,
Imaging means for imaging a subject image formed through the optical system of the lens barrel in the extended state and outputting image information;
Posture detecting means for detecting the posture of the housing;
A mode setting unit that switches an operation mode between a shooting mode in which the imaging unit performs imaging and another mode in which the imaging unit does not perform imaging;
When the mode setting unit sets the operation mode to the shooting mode, the lens barrel is shifted to the extended state, the mode setting unit sets the operation mode to the other mode, and the lens barrel is A retracting control unit that transitions the lens barrel to the retracted state when it is in the extended state and the posture detecting means detects that the front surface of the housing is facing downward;
An imaging apparatus comprising: When the mode setting unit sets the operation mode from the shooting mode to the other mode when the lens barrel is in the extended state, the retracting control means moves the lens barrel after a predetermined time at the latest. Transition to the retracted state,
The imaging device according to claim 1.

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