JP2012239078A - Photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique of a photographing device which generates a properly processed image focused on both the background and a subject, without excessively prolonging a period from fully pressing operation to image generation.SOLUTION: When a release button comes to be half pressed, the photographing device acquires background image data focused on the background (S35) and thereafter focuses on the subject (S37). When the release button comes to be fully pressed, the photographing device acquires subject image data focused on the subject (S41), thereafter performing image processing on each of the background image data and the subject image data (S43 and S45) and composing them to generate composite image data (S47).

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique of a photographing apparatus, and more particularly to a technique of a digital camera.

  In general, photographing modes such as a digital camera are provided with photographing modes corresponding to various environments in advance. For this reason, the user can easily shoot the subject with the setting according to the environment by switching the shooting mode.

  As one of such shooting modes, for example, there is a night view mode used when shooting a person against a night view. A conventional night view mode of a digital camera is generally a slow sync mode in which slow sync shooting is performed by combining a low shutter speed and flash emission. According to the slow sync shooting, a person and a night view can be shot simultaneously.

  However, in slow sync photography, the background is not in focus, and the white balance of the background is not properly corrected. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to such a problem.

  In the digital camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, an image is generated by the following procedure. First, an appropriate white balance value for the distance to the subject and the background is calculated by half-pressing the release button. Thereafter, when the release button is fully pressed, the flash is emitted to obtain an image in which the subject is focused, and the white balance is corrected. Further, an image with focus on the background is acquired without emitting the flash, and the white balance is corrected. Finally, the two acquired images are combined. Accordingly, it is possible to generate an image in which both the background and the subject are in focus and both the white balances are appropriate.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-298908

  However, in the digital camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, since two images are acquired and combined after the full press operation, it takes a long time from the full press operation to the generation of the composite image.

  For example, when photographing a person, the user (photographer) usually requests the subject (person) to stop the operation from the full-press operation to the image generation. For this reason, photographing with an excessively long time from the full-press operation to image generation is very troublesome for the subject. In addition, a device having a long time from when the full-press operation, which is the last operation for the user, to when an image is generated and displayed on the display unit, gives the user an impression that the response is poor and the performance is low. End up.

  Based on the above situation, the present invention generates an appropriately image-processed image in which both the background and the subject are in focus without excessively increasing the time from the full-press operation to the image generation. An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for a photographing apparatus.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging unit that photoelectrically converts a light beam incident via a photographing optical system to acquire image data, a focusing unit that adjusts a focal position of the photographing optical system, and the imaging unit. Image processing means for performing image processing on the image data obtained by the above, a release instruction means for giving an instruction to obtain subject image data, and the imaging means focused on the subject by an instruction from the release instruction means Before acquiring the subject image data, the imaging unit acquires background image data focused on the background of the subject, and the image processing unit executes control for combining the background image data and the subject image data. And a control means.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging unit that photoelectrically converts a light beam incident through a photographing optical system to acquire image data, a focusing unit that adjusts a focal position of the photographing optical system, and the imaging unit. An image processing unit that performs image processing on the image data acquired by the step, a release instruction unit that switches between at least an initial state, a first operation state, and a second operation state, and a state of the release instruction unit Is in the first operation state, the imaging unit acquires background image data focused on the background of the subject, and the focusing unit performs control to adjust the focal position of the photographing optical system to the subject. And when the state of the release instruction means is the second operation state, the imaging means acquires subject image data focused on the subject, and the image processing means obtains the background image data. Providing an imaging apparatus and a control means for executing a control of synthesizing the subject image data.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus according to the second aspect, the release instruction means is a release button, and the first operation state is a half-pressed state of the release button, The second operation state provides a photographing apparatus in which the release button is fully pressed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus according to the second aspect or the third aspect, the image processing unit corrects the white balance of each of the background image data and the subject image data. Provided is a photographing device that synthesizes the background image data with the white balance corrected and the subject image data with the white balance corrected.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, a photometric means for detecting a field luminance and strobe light emission for illuminating the subject. And when the state of the release instruction means is the first operation state and the focus position of the photographing optical system is in alignment with the subject, the photometry means Control for detecting the field brightness of the subject is executed, the state of the release instruction means is the second operation state, and strobe light emission is required by the field brightness detected by the photometry means When the determination is made, an imaging device is provided in which the strobe light emitting means illuminates the subject and the imaging means performs control to acquire the subject image data.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, the image capturing apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores the background image data. The background image data acquired in the first operation state is output to the storage unit, and the image processing unit provides a photographing apparatus that performs image processing on the background image data read from the storage unit.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging unit that photoelectrically converts a light beam incident via a photographing optical system to acquire image data, a focusing unit that adjusts a focal position of the photographing optical system, and the imaging unit. Image processing means for performing image processing on the image data obtained by the above, a release instruction means for switching between at least an initial state, a first operation state, and a second operation state, and photographing for setting a photographing mode A background image in which the imaging unit is focused on the background of the subject when the mode setting unit and the shooting mode are predetermined modes and the state of the release instruction unit is the first operation state. Data is acquired, and the focusing means executes control to adjust the focal position of the imaging optical system to the subject, and the release mode is the predetermined mode, and the release instruction When the stage state is the second operation state, the imaging unit acquires subject image data focused on the subject, and the image processing unit combines the background image data and the subject image data. And an imaging device including control means for executing the control.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the release instruction means is a release button, and the first operation state is a half-pressed state of the release button, The second operation state provides a photographing apparatus in which the release button is fully pressed.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus according to the seventh aspect or the eighth aspect, the image processing unit corrects the white balance of each of the background image data and the subject image data. Provided is a photographing device that synthesizes the background image data with the white balance corrected and the subject image data with the white balance corrected.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, a photometric means for detecting a field luminance and strobe light emission for illuminating the subject. The control means is a case where the photographing mode is the predetermined mode, the state of the release instruction means is the first operation state, and the focus of the photographing optical system When the position is suitable for the subject, the photometry means executes control for detecting the field luminance of the subject, and the photographing mode is the predetermined mode, and the release instruction means When the state is the second operation state and the field luminance detected by the photometric means is a predetermined value or less, the strobe light emitting means illuminates the subject, and the imaging means The subject Providing an imaging apparatus for performing a control to acquire the image data.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus according to any one of the seventh to tenth aspects, the image capturing apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores the background image data. The background image data acquired in the first operation state is output to the storage unit, and the image processing unit provides a photographing apparatus that performs image processing on the background image data read from the storage unit.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a technique of a photographing apparatus that generates an appropriately image-processed image in which both the background and the subject are in focus without excessively increasing the time from the full-press operation to the image generation. be able to.

1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera that is a photographing apparatus according to a first embodiment when viewed from the back side. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration mainly including an electric system of a digital camera according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation after a power-on reset of the digital camera according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a shooting operation of the digital camera according to the first embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating a shooting environment of a digital camera according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the figure which illustrated the image data acquired with the digital camera which concerns on Example 1 in the state which set the focus to the background. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating image data acquired by the digital camera according to the first embodiment in a state where the subject is focused. It is the figure which illustrated the image data which cut out the background part from the image data illustrated in FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating composite image data generated by the digital camera according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a shooting operation of the digital camera according to the second embodiment. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation after a power-on reset of the digital camera according to the third embodiment. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a shooting operation of the digital camera according to the third embodiment.

  The configuration of the digital camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera that is a photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment as viewed from the back side. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration mainly of the electrical system of the digital camera according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

First, an external configuration of the digital camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera 1 according to this embodiment includes an interchangeable lens 100 and a camera body 200, and the interchangeable lens 100 is a mount opening (not shown) provided on the front surface of the camera body 200. It is detachable.

  On the upper surface of the camera body 200, a mode dial 54 for setting a shooting mode, a release button 56 for instructing shooting, and a power button 57 for switching a power supply state are arranged.

  The mode dial 54 is a rotatable dial for the user to set the shooting mode, and has clicks at several places. By rotating the mode dial 54 and changing the click position, the photographing mode of the digital camera 1 can be set to a desired mode. The mode dial 54 is connected to the shooting mode switch 254 shown in FIG.

  The release button 56 is a button for the user to give an instruction to shoot. By the user's operation, the states are at least an initial state, a half-pressed state (first operation state), and a fully-pressed state (second state). To switch between (operating state). The release button 56 is connected to a 1st release switch 256a (hereinafter referred to as a 1R switch) and a 2nd release switch 256b (hereinafter referred to as a 2R switch) shown in FIG. The 1R switch 256a is turned on when the release button 56 is half-pressed, and the 2R switch 256b is turned on when the release button 56 is fully pressed.

  The power button 57 is a button for controlling the supply of power to the digital camera 1, and is connected to the power switch 257 shown in FIG. The power button 57 can switch the power switch 257 between an on state and an off state. When the power switch 257 is turned on, power is supplied to the entire camera, and the digital camera 1 starts operating. On the other hand, when the power switch 257 is turned off, the digital camera 1 operates in a low current consumption mode (also referred to as a sleep mode). In the low current consumption mode, the sequence controller (hereinafter referred to as “body CPU”) 229 shown in FIG. 2 is driven with low current consumption, and the switch detection circuit 253 shown in FIG. Does not detect state. In the low current consumption mode, power is not supplied to other than a predetermined circuit such as the switch detection circuit 253.

  On the back of the camera body 200, a rear liquid crystal monitor 26 and various buttons (reduction button 11, enlargement button 12, playback button 13, menu button 14, decision button 15, cross button 16, edit button 17, etc.) are arranged. Yes.

  As the display on the liquid crystal back monitor 26, various displays such as a live view display, a reproduction display of a recorded photographed image, and a menu screen display can be selected. In addition, a touch panel is disposed on the display surface of the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 so that the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 functions not only as a display unit but also as an operation unit.

  The reduction button 11 and the enlargement button 12 are operation members for enlarging or reducing an image displayed on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26. The reproduction button 13 is an operation member for reproducing and displaying a recorded photographed image. The menu button 14 is an operation member for displaying a menu screen. The cross button 15 is an operation member for moving a cursor or the like back and forth. The determination button 16 is an operation member for determining an item selected by the cross button 15 or the like.

Next, the overall configuration of the digital camera 1 mainly including the electrical system will be described with reference to FIG.
In the digital camera 1, an incident light beam incident on the interchangeable lens 100 detachably attached to a mount opening (not shown) on the front surface of the camera body 200 is guided into the camera body 200 through the mount opening. When the interchangeable lens 100 is attached to the camera body 200, the interchangeable lens 100 and the camera body 200 are electrically connected through the communication contact 300. An attachment / detachment detection switch 259 is provided in the vicinity of the mount opening of the camera body 200, and the digital camera 1 can detect the attachment state of the interchangeable lens 100 and the camera body 200 by the attachment / detachment detection switch 259. .

  Inside the interchangeable lens 100, a photographing optical system 101 (photographing lens 101a and photographing lens 101b) for adjusting the focal length and focal length, and a diaphragm 103 for adjusting the aperture amount are arranged. The photographing optical system 101 is driven by an optical system driving mechanism 107, and the diaphragm 103 is driven by an aperture driving mechanism 109. The optical position detection mechanism 105 detects the position of the photographing optical system 101 driven by the optical system driving mechanism 107, and detects the focus adjustment lens position (focus position) and the focal length (zoom position) of the photographing optical system 101. . A rotatable distance ring 112 is provided around the interchangeable lens 100, and the rotation direction (operation direction) and the rotation amount (operation amount) of the distance ring 112 are detected by the encoder 110. The optical position detection mechanism 105, the optical system drive mechanism 107, the aperture drive mechanism 109, and the encoder 110 are each connected to the lens CPU 111. The lens CPU 111 is connected to the camera body 200 via the communication contact 300.

  The lens CPU 111 controls the inside of the interchangeable lens 100. The lens CPU 111 controls the optical system driving mechanism 107 as a focusing unit to perform focusing and zoom driving, and controls the aperture driving mechanism 109 to control the aperture value. I do. In addition, the lens CPU 111 transmits lens information regarding the focus adjustment lens position (focus position) and the focal length detected by the optical position detection mechanism 105 to the camera body 200.

  Further, an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory is provided in the lens CPU 111 or the interchangeable lens 100 (not shown), and this nonvolatile memory has focal length information (in the case of a zoom lens) of the interchangeable lens 100. , Shortest focal length and longest focal length), maximum aperture value, minimum aperture value, shootable distance range (including the shortest distance), lens color balance information, aberration information, information for AF, macro lens and teleconverter The lens information such as the lens type and the like is stored. The lens information also includes information regarding the state of the interchangeable lens 100 such as the aperture state of the aperture (whether the aperture is in the open aperture state or the aperture state), the operation state of the distance ring 112 (operation direction, operation amount), and the like. Such lens information is also transmitted from the lens CPU 111 to the camera body 200 via the communication contact 300. Further, the lens CPU 111 also transmits information to the camera body 200 indicating completion of aperture stop completion or aperture opening completion by the aperture drive mechanism 109 and lens drive completion by the optical system drive mechanism 107.

  A focal plane type shutter 203 is disposed on the photographing optical path in the camera body 200 that coincides with the optical axis of the photographing optical system 101. The shutter 203 is driven and controlled by a shutter drive mechanism 213 and is used for exposure time control and light shielding of the image sensor 221.

  An image sensor unit 290 is disposed behind the shutter 203. The image pickup device unit 290 is a unit in which the dustproof filter 205, the infrared cut filter 209, the optical low-pass filter 210, and the image pickup device 221 are integrally formed. The image pickup device unit 290 is integrally housed in a sealed package so that dust does not enter. Yes. The image sensor unit 290 is displaced two-dimensionally within an XY plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographing optical system 101 by the blur correction mechanism 260.

  The blur correction mechanism 260 includes an actuator composed of a piezoelectric element drive motor or the like as a drive source, and displaces the image sensor unit 290 two-dimensionally within an XY plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographing optical system 101. In the camera body 200, a blur detection unit 297 configured by an angular velocity sensor 297a using a gyro and an angular velocity detection circuit 297b is disposed. The angular velocity sensor 297a is connected to the angular velocity detection circuit 297b and outputs a blur signal corresponding to the blur generated in the camera body 200 to the angular velocity detection circuit 297b. The angular velocity detection circuit 297b amplifies the blur signal, performs AD conversion, and then outputs it to the body CPU 229. Based on the shake signal detected by the shake detection means 297, the body CPU 229 outputs a shake control signal that cancels out the shake of the camera body 200 to the actuator drive circuit 296. The actuator drive circuit 296 includes the shake correction drive mechanism 260. A drive signal is output to the actuator inside. The blur correction drive mechanism 260 that has received the drive signal moves the image sensor 221 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the imaging optical system 101. As a result, an image sensor shift type camera shake correction operation that cancels blurring applied to the camera body 200 and prevents image deterioration is executed.

  The dustproof filter 205 constituting the image sensor unit 290 disposed behind the shutter 203 prevents the dust generated in the mount opening of the camera body 200 and the camera body 200 from adhering to the image sensor 221 and the optical element. . Thereby, it is possible to prevent the optical image in which the shadow of the dust is captured from being imaged.

  A piezoelectric element 207 is fixed to the entire circumference or a part of the peripheral edge of the dust filter 205. The piezoelectric element 207 is connected to a dustproof filter drive circuit 211. The piezoelectric element 207 vibrates the dust filter 205 with ultrasonic waves of a predetermined frequency based on the drive signal of the dust filter drive circuit 211. As the dust filter 205 vibrates with ultrasonic waves, dust attached to the front surface of the dust filter 205 is removed.

  An infrared cut filter 209 for cutting the infrared light component from the incident light beam is disposed behind the dust filter 205. Further, an optical low-pass filter 210 for removing high-frequency components from the incident light beam is disposed behind the optical flux. Then, the image sensor 221 disposed behind the optical low-pass filter 210 photoelectrically converts the optical image formed by the photographing optical system 101 into an analog image signal. As the image sensor 221, a two-dimensional solid-state image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) can be used.

  The image sensor 221 is connected to the image sensor drive circuit 223, and the image sensor drive circuit 223 is driven and controlled by a control signal from the input / output circuit 239. The image sensor driving circuit 223 reads an analog image signal from the image sensor 221, amplifies this signal, and performs analog-digital conversion (AD conversion) or the like. The output of the image sensor driving circuit 223 is transmitted to the preprocessing circuit 225, and various preprocessing such as pixel thinning processing for live view display is performed in the preprocessing circuit 225.

  The preprocessing circuit 225 is connected to the contrast AF circuit 226. The contrast AF circuit 226 extracts a high frequency component (contrast signal) of the image signal output from the preprocessing circuit 225. Note that an instruction from the body CPU 229 is received regarding the range of the image from which the contrast signal is extracted. The contrast AF circuit 226 extracts a contrast signal from an area such as an AF target, the entire photographing screen, or an enlarged display area in accordance with an instruction from the body CPU 229. The extracted contrast signal is output to the body CPU 229.

  The preprocessing circuit 225 is also connected to a data bus 261 in an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 262. The data bus 261 includes an image processing circuit 227, a body CPU 229, a compression / decompression circuit 231, a video signal output circuit 233, an SDRAM control circuit 237, an input / output circuit 239, a communication circuit 241, a recording medium control circuit 243, and a flash memory control circuit 247. The switch detection circuit 253 is connected. 2 shows an example in which the contrast AF circuit 226 is disposed outside the ASIC 262, the contrast AF circuit 226 may be disposed in the ASIC 262. In addition, a wireless communication unit may be connected to the data bus 261.

  An image processing circuit 227 connected to the data bus 261 performs digital amplification (digital gain adjustment processing), color correction (white balance correction), gamma (γ) correction, and digital image data output from the preprocessing circuit 225. Various image processing such as contrast correction, monochrome / color mode processing, live view display processing, and processing for extracting pixel data having a predetermined gradation value or more are performed. The image processing circuit 227 also performs an image composition process for composing a plurality of image data. Further, the image processing circuit 227 also performs face detection processing and processing for determining the luminance distribution and saturation of the image data. The face detection process is a process for determining whether or not a face portion is included in an image using image data, and if it is included, determining the position and size of the face. The hardware may be used.

  The body CPU 229 connected to the data bus 261 controls the operation of the digital camera 1 according to a program stored in the flash memory 249. Further, as described above, the body CPU 229 controls the automatic focus adjustment of the photographing optical system 101 via the lens CPU 111 based on the contrast signal from the contrast AF circuit 226.

  The compression / decompression circuit 231 connected to the data bus 261 compresses the image data stored in the SDRAM 238 using JPEG or TIFF. The image compression method is not limited to JPEG or TIFF, and other compression methods can be applied.

  A video signal output circuit 233 connected to the data bus 261 is connected to a rear liquid crystal monitor 26 and a finder liquid crystal monitor (abbreviated as F liquid crystal monitor in the figure) 29 via a liquid crystal monitor drive circuit 235. The video signal output circuit 233 converts the image data stored in the SDRAM 238 or the recording medium 245 into a video signal to be displayed on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 and / or the finder liquid crystal monitor 29.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 is disposed on the rear surface of the camera body 200, but is not limited to the rear surface as long as the photographer can observe it. The digital camera 1 may be provided with another display device such as an organic EL instead of the rear liquid crystal monitor 26. The in-viewfinder liquid crystal monitor 29 is arranged at a position where the photographer can observe through the viewfinder eyepiece. Similar to the rear liquid crystal monitor 26, the digital camera 1 may be provided with another display device such as an organic EL instead of the in-finder liquid crystal monitor 29. The digital camera 1 may be provided with only the liquid crystal monitor 26 for observing the subject image, and the viewfinder eyepiece and the viewfinder liquid crystal 29 may be omitted.

  The SDRAM 238 is connected to the data bus 261 via the SDRAM control circuit 237. The SDRAM 238 is a buffer memory for temporarily storing the image data processed by the image processing circuit 227 or the image data compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 231.

  The input / output circuit 239 is connected to the above-described dustproof filter drive circuit 211, shutter drive mechanism 213, and image sensor drive circuit 223. The input / output circuit 239 controls data input / output between these circuits or mechanisms and each circuit such as the body CPU 229 via the data bus 261.

  The communication circuit 241 is connected to the lens CPU 111 via the communication contact 300. Further, the data bus 261 is also connected. The communication circuit 241 mediates data exchange and control command communication between the lens CPU 111 and the body CPU 229.

  A recording medium control circuit 243 connected to the data bus 261 is connected to the storage medium 245 and controls recording and reproduction of image data and the like on the recording medium 245. The recording medium 245 is a rewritable recording medium such as a compact flash (registered trademark), an SD memory card (registered trademark), or a memory stick (registered trademark), and is detachable from the camera body 200. Yes. In addition, a hard disk unit such as a microdrive (registered trademark) may be used as the recording medium 245.

  The flash memory control circuit 247 connected to the data bus 261 is connected to a flash memory 249. The flash memory 249 is an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory, and stores a program for controlling the operation of the camera, control adjustment values, and the like. The body CPU 229 controls the digital camera 1 in accordance with programs, adjustment values, etc. stored in the flash memory 249.

  The switch detection circuit 253 connected to the data bus 261 is connected to the shooting mode switch 254, the 1R switch 256a, the 2R switch 256b, the power switch 257, other various switches 255, and the attachment / detachment detection switch 259.

  The shooting mode switch 254 is a switch connected to the mode dial 54 shown in FIG. 1 and is used for switching the shooting mode. The 1R switch 256a and the 2R switch 256b are switches connected to the release button 56 shown in FIG. 1. The 1R switch 256a is turned on when the release button 56 is half-pressed, and the 2R switch 256b is set to all the release buttons 56. Press to turn on. The power switch 257 is a switch connected to the power button 57 shown in FIG. 1 and controls the power supply to the camera body 200 and the interchangeable lens 100. Other various switches 255 include a switch linked to the playback button 13 for instructing a playback mode, a switch linked to the cross button 15 for instructing the movement of the cursor displayed on the screen of the rear liquid crystal monitor 26, and the like. The switch etc. which interlock | cooperate with the decision button 16 which decides each selected mode etc. are contained.

  Note that the shooting mode is a combination of an exposure mode, an AF mode, and the like, and is selected to set an aperture value, a shutter speed, and the like. In the digital camera 1, as a photographing mode, a program mode (P) for determining exposure based on a program diagram, an aperture priority mode (AV priority), a shutter speed priority mode (TV priority), a manual exposure mode (M), and a camera are left to the camera. Auto mode (AUTO), portrait mode suitable for portrait photography with blurred background, sport mode that easily follows fast movements, night view mode that exposes people for a long time and proper exposure, suitable for long-distance subjects Landscape mode is provided. In addition, there are various shooting modes that make use of the subject's features. The shooting mode can be selected from the menu screen in addition to the mode dial 54.

  Further, the camera body 200 is provided with a strobe light emission circuit 298 and a strobe light emission unit 299. The strobe light emission circuit 298 is composed of a charging circuit and a light emission control circuit for charging a light emitting capacitor (not shown), starts charging according to a charging signal from the body CPU 229, and completes charging to the body CPU 229 when charging is completed. To be notified. The body CPU 229 that has received the notification of the completion of charging outputs a light emission instruction to the strobe light emission circuit 298 when the object field luminance of the subject is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The strobe light emission circuit 298 includes a xenon tube, a diffusion lens, a reflection lens, and the like. The strobe light emitting unit 299 including an umbrella is caused to emit light.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation after the power-on reset of the digital camera 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the photographing operation of the digital camera 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a shooting environment of the digital camera 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating image data acquired by the digital camera 1 in a state where the background is in focus. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating image data acquired by the digital camera 1 in a state where the subject is focused. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating image data obtained by cutting out a background portion from the image data illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating composite image data generated by the digital camera 1.

First, the operation of the digital camera 1 will be outlined with reference to FIG.
When a battery is loaded in the camera body 200 or an external power supply is connected, the body CPU 229 executes a program stored in the flash memory 249 and performs the following processing. First, it is determined whether or not the power switch 257 of the camera body 200 is on (step S1). If the result of determination is that the power switch 257 is in the off state, the digital camera 1 transitions to a sleep state, which is a low power consumption state (step S3). This sleep state is canceled when the power switch 257 changes from the off state to the on state. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S1 is that the power switch 257 is in the on state, or if the sleep state in step S3 is released, power supply is started (step S5). Thereby, electric power is supplied to each mechanism, each circuit, etc. in the camera body 200 and the interchangeable lens 100.

  In step S7, lens information is acquired. Specifically, focal position information and focal length information of the photographing optical system 101 detected by the optical position detection mechanism 105 are acquired from the lens CPU 111 via the communication circuit 241. Various interchangeable lenses such as close-up focal length and long focal length, open aperture value, exposure correction value for each focal length, peripheral light amount correction value (shading), peripheral color correction value, distortion aberration correction value, etc. Lens information such as 100 unique information is acquired. It also acquires information about accessories related to lenses such as intermediate rings and teleconverters, and detects the presence or absence of such accessories.

  In step S9, an operation mode and parameter setting are performed. If there is information such as the shooting mode set by the mode dial 54, ISO sensitivity, and manually set shutter speed and aperture value, those shooting conditions are read and set.

  In step S11, a live view operation for displaying the subject image as a moving image on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 based on the image signal from the image sensor 221 is started to observe the subject image. When the live view operation is started, first, photometry / exposure amount is calculated (step S13). Specifically, the field luminance is obtained based on a signal output from the image sensor 221 and taken into the image sensor drive circuit 223. An exposure control value such as a shutter speed and an aperture value at which proper exposure is performed for live view display is calculated from the obtained field luminance and shooting mode / shooting conditions. Then, a live view operation is performed based on the calculation result in step S13 (step S15). That is, an image is acquired according to the calculation result, and the image on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 is updated.

  As will be described later, when the power switch 257 is in the on state in step S23, the control returns to step S13. Therefore, as long as the power switch 257 is in the on state, the live view operation is repeatedly performed. Thereby, live view display for displaying a moving image on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26 is performed.

  After the live view operation, it is determined whether or not the playback switch linked to the playback button 13 is on (step S17). If the result of this determination is that the playback switch is on, playback is performed (step S18), and the captured image recorded on the recording medium 245 is played back and displayed on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26.

  After the reproduction operation is completed or if the result of determination in step S17 is that the reproduction switch is not on, it is determined whether or not the menu switch linked to the menu button 14 is on (step S19). . If the result of determination in step S19 is that the menu switch is on, menu setting operation is performed (step S20). In step S20, a menu screen is displayed on the rear liquid crystal monitor 26, and shooting is performed on various setting screens such as ISO sensitivity, white balance, manual focus (MF) mode, autofocus (AF) mode, and image stabilization mode. The user operates the cross button 15 and the decision button 16 to set various modes and parameters. Thereafter, the set mode is executed. For example, when the image stabilization mode is set, the image stabilization operation is executed during the live view operation and the shooting operation.

  After the menu setting operation or if the result of determination in step S19 is that the menu switch is not in the on state, it is determined whether or not the 1R switch 256a is in the on state by half-pressing the release button 56. (Step S21). If the result of determination in step S <b> 21 is that the 1R switch 256 a is on, a shooting operation is performed (step S <b> 30), and the shot image data is stored in the recording medium 245. The details of the photographing operation performed in step S30 will be described later.

  After the photographing operation or as a result of the determination in step S21, it is determined whether or not the power switch 257 is in the on state (step S23). If the result of determination in step S23 is that the power switch 257 is on, processing returns to step S13 and the above-described operation is repeated. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S23 is that the power switch 257 is not on, power supply is stopped (step S25), the process returns to step S3, and the digital camera 1 transitions to the sleep state.

  Next, the photographing operation of the digital camera 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Here, the case where a person is photographed against a night view as shown in FIG. 5 will be described in detail.

When the release button 56 is half-pressed by the half-pressing operation of the release button 56, the body CPU 229 performs the following processing.
First, the digital camera 1 is focused on the background (night scene) (step S31). Specifically, the body CPU 229 instructs the lens CPU 111 to set the focal position of the photographing optical system 101 to infinity. Receiving the instruction from the body CPU 229, the lens CPU 111 moves the photographing lens (the photographing lens 101a and the photographing lens 101b) to the optical system driving mechanism 107 so that the focal position of the photographing optical system 101 becomes infinity.

  In step S33, photometric processing is performed in the state in which the focus is matched to the background by the processing of step S31, and an exposure amount necessary for photographing the background satisfactorily is calculated. In the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, an image sensor drive circuit 223 that takes in an analog signal from the image sensor 221 functions as a photometric unit, and the body CPU 229 calculates a necessary exposure amount.

  In step S35, the exposure time is controlled according to the exposure amount calculated in step S33, and image data focused on the background (hereinafter referred to as background image data) is acquired. When acquiring background image data with a night scene as shown in FIG. 5, exposure is performed for a long time. As a result, it is possible to obtain background image data obtained by capturing a night scene as shown in FIG. 6 with appropriate brightness. The acquired background image data is temporarily stored in the SDRAM 238 via the SDRAM control circuit 237. In step S35, since the strobe light emitting unit 299 does not emit light, the background image data is image data in which the subject is dark as shown in FIG.

  In step S37, the digital camera 1 is focused on the subject (person). Specifically, based on the output from the contrast AF circuit 226, the body CPU 229 instructs the lens CPU 111 to set the focal position of the photographing optical system 101 to the subject. Receiving the instruction from the body CPU 229, the lens CPU 111 moves the photographing lens (the photographing lens 101a and the photographing lens 101b) to the optical system driving mechanism 107 so that the focal position of the photographing optical system 101 becomes the subject position.

  In step S38, photometric processing is performed in a state where the focus is on the subject by the processing in step S37. In the photometric process, the field luminance is detected based on a signal output from the image sensor 221 and taken into the image sensor drive circuit 223. Then, based on the field luminance, an exposure amount necessary for photographing the subject satisfactorily is calculated.

  In step S39, the full pressing operation of the release button 56 is monitored. Specifically, the state of the 2R switch 256b is repeatedly determined until the 2R switch 256b is turned on. If it is determined that the 2R switch 256b is in the ON state, in step S41, the exposure time is controlled according to the exposure amount calculated in step S38, and image data in which the subject is focused (hereinafter referred to as subject image data). .) When acquiring subject image data with a night view as shown in FIG. 5 as a background, the image data is acquired while the strobe light emitting unit 299 emits light to illuminate the subject. Accordingly, it is possible to acquire subject image data in which a person who is a subject as shown in FIG. 7 is illuminated brightly. In step S41, the shutter speed is faster than in step S35. For this reason, since the exposure time is short and the light from the strobe light emitting unit 299 does not reach the background, the subject image data is image data with a dark background as shown in FIG.

  In step S43, the SDRAM control circuit 237 reads the background image data temporarily stored in the SDRAM 238, and the image processing circuit 227 performs image processing such as white balance correction on the background image data read from the SDRAM 238. Do. In step S45, similarly, the image processing circuit 227 performs image processing such as white balance correction on the subject image data.

  In step S47, the image processing circuit 227 synthesizes the background image data processed in step S43 and the subject image data processed in step S45. For image synthesis, for example, pixel data that is equal to or lower than a predetermined gradation value among the pixel data of the subject image data subjected to image processing in step S45, and corresponding pixels of the background image data subjected to image processing in step S43. This is done by replacing with data. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the background part (the part surrounded by a circle) is cut out from the background image data image-processed in step S43, and the cut-out background part is shown in step S45 as shown in FIG. Is combined with the subject image data subjected to the image processing. At this time, image enhancement processing may be performed on the cut-out background portion so that the night view is displayed more clearly. Moreover, you may perform other arbitrary existing image processes as needed.

  Thereafter, the compression / decompression circuit 231 compresses the image data generated in step S47 (hereinafter referred to as composite image data) using JPEG, TIFF, or the like (step S49), and the composite image data compressed by the recording medium control circuit 243 is displayed. Recording is performed on the recording medium 245 (step S51), and the photographing operation ends.

  In the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, background image data focused on the background and subject image data focused on the subject are acquired. For this reason, the white balance of each image data can be corrected appropriately. Further, by synthesizing those image data after correcting the white balance, it is possible to obtain composite image data in which the white balance is appropriately corrected with both the background and the subject in focus. Also, in the digital camera 1, when the 1R switch 256a is in the on state, in order to acquire background image data that requires long exposure, composite image data is generated after the 2R switch 256b is in the on state. It is possible to reduce the processing time required to complete the process.

  Therefore, according to the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, an appropriately image-processed image in which both the background and the subject are in focus is generated without excessively increasing the time from the full-press operation to the image generation. can do.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the photographing operation of the digital camera according to the present embodiment. The configuration of the digital camera according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment. The operation after the power-on reset of the digital camera according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment, except for the shooting operation. Therefore, hereinafter, only the photographing operation of the digital camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the digital camera according to the present embodiment, when the release button 56 is half-pressed by the half-press operation of the release button 56, the body CPU 229 performs the following processing.
First, the shooting mode is determined (step S60). If the shooting mode is the program mode (P) or the auto mode (AUTO), the control proceeds to step S31. On the other hand, the shooting mode is a mode that prioritizes the aperture with respect to the shutter speed (AV priority), a mode that prioritizes the shutter speed with respect to the aperture (TV priority), a manual exposure mode (M), or an exposure at long seconds. If it is the night scene mode (night scene) to be performed, the control transitions to step S66. That is, in step S60, it is determined whether or not it is a shooting mode in which the shutter speed is defined.

  When the shooting mode is the program mode (P) or the auto mode (AUTO), the processing from step S31 to step S39 is performed as in the case of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment. That is, background image data in which the background is in focus is acquired and temporarily stored in the SDRAM 238. Thereafter, the subject is focused and a preparatory operation necessary for photographing the subject image is performed, and the process waits until the 2R switch 256b is turned on.

  When the 2R switch 256b is turned on, it is determined whether or not the strobe light emitting unit 299 needs to emit light (step S62). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the field luminance detected in step S38 is a predetermined value or less.

  For example, when a person is photographed against the background of a night view as shown in FIG. 5, when it is determined that the flash light emission unit 299 needs to emit light, that is, the field luminance is equal to or less than a predetermined value, The strobe light emission circuit 298 causes the strobe light emission unit 299 to emit light, and obtains subject image data focused on the subject (step S64). Thereafter, similarly to the case of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment, the processing from step S43 to step S51 is performed. That is, after the composite image data is generated, it is recorded on the recording medium 245, and the photographing is finished.

  If it is determined in step S62 that the flash emission unit 299 does not need to emit light, that is, the field brightness exceeds a predetermined value, the subject is focused without causing the flash emission unit 299 to emit light. The obtained image data is acquired (step S76). Thereafter, image processing such as white balance correction is performed on the image data acquired in step S76 (step S78). Furthermore, similarly to the case of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment, the processing from step S49 to step S51 is performed. That is, the image data with the white balance corrected in focus on the subject is recorded on the recording medium 245, and the shooting is finished.

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S60 is that the shooting mode is neither program mode (P) nor auto mode (AUTO), the digital camera according to this embodiment acquires background image data. Absent.

  Specifically, the subject is focused (step S66), and image data in which the subject is focused is acquired (step S68). Thereafter, it waits for the 2R switch 256b to be turned on (step S70). When the 2R switch 256b is turned on by fully pressing the release button 56, it is determined whether or not the flash unit 299 needs to emit light based on the field luminance detected in step S68 (step S72).

  If the flash emission unit 299 needs to emit light, the flash emission unit 299 emits light to acquire image data (step S74). If the flash emission unit 299 does not need to emit light, do not emit the flash emission unit 299. Image data is acquired (step S76). Thereafter, image processing such as white balance correction is performed on the acquired image data focused on the subject (step S78). Furthermore, similarly to the case of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment, the processing from step S49 to step S51 is performed. That is, the image data with the white balance corrected with the subject in focus is recorded on the recording medium 245, and the shooting is finished.

  In the digital camera according to the present embodiment, when the shooting mode is a predetermined mode, background image data focused on the background and subject image data focused on the subject are respectively acquired. For this reason, the white balance of each image data can be corrected appropriately. Also, by combining the image data after correcting the white balance, similarly to the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment, the combined image data in which the white balance in which both the background and the subject are in focus is corrected appropriately. Can be obtained. Further, in the digital camera according to the present embodiment, in order to obtain background image data that requires long exposure when the 1R switch 256a is in the on state, the composite image data is obtained after the 2R switch 256b is in the on state. Similarly to the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce the processing time required until the image is generated.

  Therefore, according to the digital camera according to the present embodiment, as in the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment, both the background and the subject can be focused without excessively increasing the time from the full press operation to the image generation. A suitable and properly imaged image can be generated.

  Further, in a situation where the field luminance is equal to or higher than a predetermined value and the light emission of the strobe light emitting unit 299 is not necessary, the effect obtained by image composition is related to the time required for image generation for image composition. , May not always be enough. In the digital camera according to the present embodiment, even when the predetermined shooting mode is used, the background image data and the subject image data are not combined when the flash emission unit 299 does not need to emit light. For this reason, the digital camera itself can determine the situation in which image composition is effective, and a composite image can be generated only when it is effective.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation after the power-on reset of the digital camera according to the present embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the photographing operation of the digital camera according to the present embodiment. The configuration of the digital camera according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the operation after the power-on reset of the digital camera according to the present embodiment is a series of operations (step S31, step S31) for acquiring background image data before the state determination (step S21) processing of the 1R switch 256a. The operation of S33, S35) is different from the operation of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, in the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 12, a series of operations for acquiring background image data is not performed during the photographing operation in step S80. Other operations and procedures are the same as those of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment.

  More specifically, in the digital camera according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the background image data is obtained immediately after the live view operation (step S15) that is repeatedly performed as long as the power switch 257 is on. A series of operations to obtain is executed. That is, the focus is adjusted to the background (night scene) (step S31), the photometry process is performed in a state where the focus is matched to the background, and the exposure amount necessary for photographing the background satisfactorily is calculated (step S33). Then, the exposure time is controlled according to the calculated exposure amount, background image data focused on the background is acquired, and temporarily stored in the SDRAM 238 (step S35).

  Therefore, also with the digital camera according to the present embodiment, the background image data is acquired before the full-pressing operation instructing acquisition of the subject image data. Therefore, similarly to the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment, an appropriately image-processed image in which both the background and the subject are in focus is obtained without excessively increasing the time from the full-press operation to the image generation. Can be generated.

  Further, in the digital camera according to the present embodiment, a series of processing for acquiring background image data is repeatedly performed together with the live view operation before the 1R switch 256a is turned on, and immediately before the 1R switch 256a is turned on. The latest background image data is always acquired. Therefore, the release time lag that occurs after the half-pressing operation can be shortened compared to the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment that is performed while the 1R switch 256a is in the ON state after the half-pressing operation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital camera, 11 ... Reduction button, 12 ... Enlarge button, 13 ... Play button, 14 ... Menu button, 16 ... Decision button, 15 ... Cross button, 17 ... Edit button, 26 ... Back LCD monitor, 29 ... LCD monitor in viewfinder, 54 ... Mode dial, 56 ... Release button, 57 ... Power button, 100 ... Interchangeable lens 101 ... Shooting optical system, 101a, 101b ... Shooting lens, 103 ... Stop, 105 ... Optical position detection mechanism, 107 ... Optical system drive mechanism, 109 ... Stop drive mechanism, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Encoder, 111 ... Lens CPU, 112 ... Distance ring, 200 ... Camera body, 203 ... Shutter, 205 ... Dust-proof filter, 207 ... Piezoelectric element, 209 ...・ Infrared cut filter, 2 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 0 ... Optical low-pass filter, 211 ... Dust-proof filter drive circuit, 213 ... Shutter drive mechanism, 221 ... Image sensor, 223 ... Image sensor drive mechanism, 225 ... Pre-processing circuit, 226 ... Contrast AF circuit, 227 ... Image processing circuit, 229 ... Body CPU, 231 ... Compression / decompression circuit, 233 ... Video signal output circuit, 235 ... Liquid crystal monitor drive circuit, 237 ... SDRAM control circuit, 238 ... SDRAM, 239 ... input / output circuit, 241 ... communication circuit, 243 ... recording medium control circuit, 245 ... recording medium, 247 ... flash memory Control circuit, 249 ... Flash memory, 253 ... Switch detection circuit, 254 ... Shooting mode switch, 255 ... Other various switches 56a ... 1R switch, 256b ... 2R switch, 257 ... power switch, 259 ... attachment / detachment detection switch, 260 ... blur correction drive mechanism, 261 ... data bus, 262 ... ASIC 290: Image sensor unit, 296: Actuator drive circuit, 297 ... Blur detection means, 297a ... Angular velocity sensor, 297b ... Angular velocity detection circuit 297b, 298 ... Strobe light emission circuit, 299 ... Strobe light emitting part, 300 ... Communication contact

Claims (11)

An imaging means for photoelectrically converting a light beam incident via a photographing optical system to acquire image data;
Focusing means for adjusting the focal position of the photographing optical system;
Image processing means for performing image processing on the image data acquired by the imaging means;
Release instruction means for giving an instruction to acquire subject image data;
Before the imaging means acquires subject image data focused on the subject by an instruction from the release instruction means, the imaging means acquires background image data focused on the background of the subject, and the image processing means And a control unit that executes control for combining the background image data and the subject image data. An imaging means for photoelectrically converting a light beam incident via a photographing optical system to acquire image data;
Focusing means for adjusting the focal position of the photographing optical system;
Image processing means for performing image processing on the image data acquired by the imaging means;
Release instruction means for switching between at least an initial state, a first operation state, and a second operation state;
When the state of the release instruction unit is the first operation state, the imaging unit acquires background image data focused on the background of the subject, and the focusing unit determines the focal position of the photographing optical system. When the control to match the subject is executed and the state of the release instruction means is the second operation state, the imaging means acquires subject image data focused on the subject, and the image processing means An imaging apparatus comprising: control means for executing control for combining the background image data and the subject image data. The imaging device according to claim 2,
The release instruction means is a release button,
The first operation state is a half-pressed state of the release button,
The photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second operation state is a state where the release button is fully pressed. In the imaging device according to claim 2 or 3,
The image processing unit corrects the white balance of each of the background image data and the subject image data, and then combines the background image data with the white balance corrected and the subject image data with the white balance corrected. An imaging apparatus characterized by that. The imaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising:
A photometric means for detecting the field luminance;
Strobe light emitting means for illuminating the subject,
The control means includes
Control in which the photometry means detects the field luminance of the subject when the release instruction means is in the first operation state and the focus position of the photographing optical system is aligned with the subject. Run
When the release instruction means is in the second operation state and it is determined that strobe light emission is necessary based on the field luminance detected by the photometry means, the strobe light emission means illuminates the subject. Then, the imaging device executes control for acquiring the subject image data. The imaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising:
Storing means for storing the background image data;
The imaging means outputs the background image data acquired in the first operation state to the storage means,
The imaging apparatus, wherein the image processing means performs image processing on the background image data read from the storage means. An imaging means for photoelectrically converting a light beam incident via a photographing optical system to acquire image data;
Focusing means for adjusting the focal position of the photographing optical system;
Image processing means for performing image processing on the image data acquired by the imaging means;
Release instruction means for switching between at least an initial state, a first operation state, and a second operation state;
A shooting mode setting means for setting a shooting mode;
When the shooting mode is a predetermined mode and the state of the release instruction unit is the first operation state, the imaging unit acquires background image data focused on the background of the subject. The focusing means executes control for adjusting the focal position of the photographing optical system to the subject, and the photographing mode is the predetermined mode, and the state of the release instruction means is the second operation. Control means for acquiring subject image data focused on the subject when the imaging means is in a state, and executing control for combining the background image data and the subject image data by the image processing means; An imaging device comprising: In the imaging device according to claim 7,
The release instruction means is a release button,
The first operation state is a half-pressed state of the release button,
The photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second operation state is a state where the release button is fully pressed. In the imaging device according to claim 7 or 8,
The image processing unit corrects the white balance of each of the background image data and the subject image data, and then combines the background image data with the white balance corrected and the subject image data with the white balance corrected. An imaging apparatus characterized by that. The imaging device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising:
A photometric means for detecting the field luminance;
Strobe light emitting means for illuminating the subject,
The control means includes
When the photographing mode is the predetermined mode, when the state of the release instruction means is the first operation state, and the focal position of the photographing optical system is aligned with the subject, The photometry means performs control to detect the field luminance of the subject,
In the case where the photographing mode is the predetermined mode, the state of the release instruction unit is the second operation state, and the field luminance detected by the photometry unit is not more than a predetermined value. In some cases, the strobe light emitting unit illuminates the subject, and the imaging unit executes control to acquire the subject image data. The imaging device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, further comprising:
Storing means for storing the background image data;
The imaging means outputs the background image data acquired in the first operation state to the storage means,
The imaging apparatus, wherein the image processing means performs image processing on the background image data read from the storage means.