JP2013017125A - Imaging apparatus and display method for monitoring image of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of preventing a main subject region in a screen from being hidden by a slave screen when the slave screen is overlapped with a prescribed region in the screen of a display section to display an image.SOLUTION: When a first monitoring image obtained by first imaging means (photographing lens, CCD image sensor) is displayed on a screen of a liquid crystal monitor 8 and a second monitoring image which is obtained by second imaging means (distance measuring apparatus) and includes a photographing field angle range of the first monitoring image is displayed with the slave screen 30 overlapped with a prescribed position in the screen upon monitoring before photographing, control for moving the position of the slave screen 30 and/or reducing the size of the slave screen 30 is performed so that the slave screen 30 is not overlapped with the main subject region (face detection frame A) displayed on the screen during monitoring.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device such as a digital camera having a display unit capable of displaying a captured image, a reproduced image, and the like at the time of shooting or playback of a shot image, and a monitoring image display method of the imaging device.

  The digital camera is provided with a display unit such as a liquid crystal monitor (LCD) on the back side for displaying a photographed image or a reproduced image when photographing or reproducing a photographed image. Further, during monitoring before shooting by pressing the release button, this display unit functions as an electronic viewfinder, and a through image of the subject obtained through the shooting lens is displayed on the display unit. Thus, the photographer can check the composition and the like while viewing the through image displayed on the display unit during monitoring.

  In recent years, a digital camera has been proposed in which a small screen is superimposed on a certain area in the screen of the display unit and an image can be displayed on the small screen (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the invention of Patent Document 1, an image obtained by zooming and enlarging a predetermined area (for example, a person) of the monitoring image is displayed on the screen of the display unit, and the entire monitoring image is reduced and displayed on the sub-screen. I have to.

  By the way, in the invention of Patent Document 1, the position and size of the sub-screen superimposed on the screen of the display unit are fixed. For this reason, if a part of the main subject area (for example, a person's face) obtained by enlarging a predetermined area of the monitoring image displayed on the screen is at a position overlapping the sub-screen, the main subject area (for example, the face of a person) Part) is hidden by the sub-screen. Further, when the main subject area (for example, the face of a person) moves during monitoring and a part thereof overlaps the sub-screen, a part of the main subject area (for example, the face of the person) is hidden by the sub-screen. End up.

  In this way, when a part of the main subject area (for example, the face of a person) in the screen is hidden by the sub-screen, the photographer can enlarge the main subject area (for example, the person's face displayed during monitoring). It becomes difficult to grasp the entire face).

  Therefore, the present invention provides an imaging device capable of preventing a part of the main subject area in the screen from being hidden by the sub-screen when the sub-screen is displayed on a certain area in the screen of the display unit. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for displaying a monitoring image of an imaging apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a first imaging unit having a first imaging element on which a subject image is formed through a first imaging optical system, and a second imaging optical system. A second imaging unit having a second imaging element on which the subject image is formed, and a first monitoring image obtained by the first imaging unit during monitoring before imaging is displayed on the main screen. And a display means for displaying a second monitoring image obtained by the second imaging means including a shooting angle of view range of the first monitoring image on a sub-screen superimposed on a predetermined position of the main screen. A main subject region is detected from the first monitoring image or the second monitoring image based on image information obtained by the first imaging unit or the second imaging unit; As the small picture does not overlap with the main subject region displayed on the main screen when Taringu is characterized in that a control means for controlling the display of the child screen.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first imaging unit having a first imaging element on which a subject image is formed through a first imaging optical system having a zoom optical system, and the first imaging unit. And a second imaging unit having a second imaging element on which the photographic optical axis is disposed a predetermined distance apart and the subject image is formed through a second imaging optical system having a zoom optical system. A displayable imaging device capable of generating a 3D image from each image obtained by each of the first and second imaging means, which is obtained by the first imaging means during monitoring before photographing. The zoomed-up first monitoring image is displayed on the main screen, and the second monitoring image set on the wide-angle side obtained by the second imaging unit is superimposed on a predetermined position of the main screen. Can be displayed on A main subject region is detected from the first monitoring image or the second monitoring image based on image information obtained by the display means and the first imaging means or the second imaging means; Control means for controlling display of the sub-screen so that the sub-screen does not overlap the main subject area displayed on the main screen during monitoring.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the control means moves and / or reduces the size of the child screen so that the child screen does not overlap the main subject area in the main screen. It is characterized by performing control.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means divides the screen area of the entire main screen into a plurality of block areas, and displays the child screen in a block area where the detected main subject area does not exist. It is a feature.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the control means hides the child screen when the detected main subject area covers all block areas.

  The invention according to claim 6 further includes focusing means for tracking the main subject area to automatically control the in-focus state, and the control means is configured to respond to the main subject area tracked by the focusing means. The display of the child screen is controlled so that the child screens do not overlap.

  In the invention according to claim 7, the control means detects all the main subject areas when there are a plurality of the main subject areas, and prevents the child screen from overlapping the all main subject areas. It is characterized by controlling the display of the sub-screen.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the control means detects a human face area and / or a pet face area as the main subject area.

  In the invention according to claim 9, the control means displays the detected main subject area as a rectangular frame area so as to overlap the main screen so that the child screen does not overlap the rectangular frame area. The display of the sub-screen is controlled.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a first imaging unit having a first imaging element on which a subject image is formed through a first photographing optical system, and the subject image is formed through a second photographing optical system. A monitoring image display method of an imaging apparatus including a second imaging unit having a second imaging element, wherein the first imaging unit obtained by the first imaging unit during monitoring before imaging The monitoring image is displayed on the main screen of the display unit, and the second monitoring image obtained by the second imaging unit and including the shooting angle range of the first monitoring image is displayed at a predetermined position on the main screen. The first monitoring image or the second monitor based on the first step of displaying on the superimposed sub-screen and the image information obtained by the first imaging means or the second imaging means A main subject area is detected from the moving image, and a position of the child screen is moved and / or reduced in size so that the child screen does not overlap the main subject area displayed on the main screen during monitoring. And a step.

  According to the present invention, when the child screen is displayed on the main screen of the display means during monitoring, by controlling the display of the child screen so that the child screen does not overlap the main subject area displayed on the main screen, It is possible to always grasp the entire main subject area displayed on the main screen.

(A) is a figure which shows the front side of the digital camera as an example of the imaging device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows the back side. The block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the system configuration | structure of the digital camera shown in FIG. (A) is a schematic sectional drawing which shows a ranging apparatus, (b) is a top view which shows the image pick-up element of this ranging apparatus. Schematic for demonstrating the ranging principle by a ranging apparatus. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the image displayed on the screen of a liquid crystal monitor, (b) is a figure which shows the state by which the subscreen was displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor. The flowchart which shows the control when moving a child screen to another position (or reducing the size of a child screen). The figure which shows the state which divided | segmented the whole screen of the liquid crystal monitor into plurality. The figure which shows a subscreen being displayed in the upper left area | region in the screen of a liquid crystal monitor. The figure which shows the state which divided | segmented the whole screen of the liquid crystal monitor into plurality. The figure which shows the state where the sub-screen reduced to the lower right area in the screen of a liquid crystal monitor is displayed. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a state in which a child screen is displayed in the upper left area of the liquid crystal monitor screen, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a state in which the child screen is displayed in the upper right area of the liquid crystal monitor screen. The figure which shows the state by which the face of a dog was displayed on the screen of a liquid crystal monitor as a main subject area, and the sub-screen was displayed in the lower left area in the screen of a liquid crystal monitor. (A) is a figure which shows the front side of the 3D camera as an example of the imaging device which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows the back side. The block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the system configuration | structure of 3D camera shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiments.
<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1A is a front view showing a digital camera as an example of an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a view showing the back side of the digital camera, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a system configuration of the digital camera shown in FIG. Note that the digital camera of this embodiment has a triangulation type distance measuring device.

(Appearance structure of digital camera)
As shown in FIG. 1, a photographing lens 2 having an optical zoom function, a lens array 4 on the front side of the distance measuring device 3, and the like are disposed on the front (front) side of the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment. . On the surface of the lens array 4, a pair (two) of distance measuring lenses 5a and 5b provided in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval are integrally formed (details of the distance measuring device 3 will be described later). The optical axes of the imaging lens 2 and the distance measuring lenses 5a and 5b are parallel to each other.

  On the upper surface side of the digital camera 1, a release button (shutter button) 6, a photographing / playback switching dial 7, a power button (not shown), and the like are provided. Also, on the back side of the digital camera 1, a liquid crystal monitor (LCD) 8 as a display unit, a telephoto zoom (T) switch 9, a wide angle zoom (W) 10, a switch menu (MENU) button 11, a confirmation button ( OK button) 12 and the like are provided.

(System configuration of digital camera 1)
As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera 1 is used for photographing in which a photographing lens 2 having a plurality of lens groups, a diaphragm unit 20 having a shutter function, and a subject image incident through the photographing lens 2 is formed on a light receiving surface. A CCD image sensor 21 as an image pickup device, a signal processing unit 22 that digitally processes an image signal (pixel output signal) output from the CCD image sensor 21 and converts it into image data that can be displayed or recorded, and an operation unit (Release button 6, shooting mode switching button 7, shooting / playback switching dial 7, telephoto zoom (T) switch 9, wide angle zoom (W) 10, menu button 11, confirm button 12 (see FIG. 1), etc.) 23 System control of the entire digital camera 1 based on a control program stored in a ROM (not shown) based on operation input information from The liquid crystal monitor 8 that displays the image data generated by the signal processing unit 22, the focus lens driving unit 25 that drives the focus lens group of the photographing lens 2, and the zoom lens group of the photographing lens 2 are driven. The zoom lens driving unit 26, the aperture unit driving unit 27 that drives the aperture unit 20, and the distance measuring device 3 that measures the distance to the subject are provided. The image data generated by the signal processing unit 22 is recorded on a removable memory card 28 in a memory card storage unit (not shown).

  In addition to displaying captured image data (captured images) and image data already recorded on the memory card 28, the liquid crystal monitor 8 displays various operation contents such as a shooting mode at the time of shooting, and an electronic viewfinder. Monitoring images (moving images) can be displayed. In the monitoring operation before actual shooting, an image (moving image) obtained by thinning the number of pixels with respect to the image signal from the CCD image sensor 21 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 8. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment has a function of superimposing a sub screen on a certain area in the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 and displaying an image on the sub screen (details will be described later). To do).

(Configuration of ranging device 3)
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the distance measuring device 3 includes a housing 30 whose front side (the upper side in FIG. 3A) is open, and a pair of measurement devices on the front side of the housing 30. The lens array 4 made of a transparent resin material in which the distance lenses 5a and 5b are integrally formed in a line (left and right direction of the digital camera 1), and the back side in the housing 30 facing the lens array 4 (FIG. 3A ), A thin plate-like image pickup device substrate 31, two planar (two-dimensional) image pickup devices 32a and 32b formed on the image pickup device substrate 31 at predetermined intervals, and an image pickup device substrate. A distance measurement processing unit 33 and an analog front end (AFE) unit 34 are provided on the rear surface of 31.

  The optical axes of the distance measuring lenses 5a and 5b are parallel, and the diagonal centers of the imaging regions 32a1 and 32b1 of the distance measuring imaging elements 32a and 32b and the optical axes of the distance measuring lenses 5a and 5b are set. They are positioned so as to approximately match. The angle of view of each of the distance measuring lenses 5a and 5b substantially corresponds to the angle of view when the photographing lens 2 is set to the wide angle side.

  The distance measurement processing unit 33 shifts (parallax) between subject images formed in the imaging regions 32a1 and 32c1 based on the image signals captured from the distance measuring imaging devices 32a and 32b (imaging regions 32a1 and 32b1). And the distance to the subject is calculated. The distance data calculated by the distance measurement processing unit 33 is output to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 outputs a drive control signal to the focus lens driving unit 25 so that the subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD image sensor 21 based on the input distance information, and the focus lens of the photographing lens 2. Move the group.

  The AFE unit 34 converts the image signals output from the distance measurement imaging devices 32a and 32b (imaging regions 32a1 and 32b1) into digital signals. The image signal converted into a digital signal by the AFE unit 34 is input to the signal processing unit 22.

  Here, the principle of distance measurement by the distance measuring device 3 will be briefly described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the subject image a1 obtained through the distance measuring lens 5a and the subject image a2 obtained through the distance measuring lens 5b have the same point on the subject a deviated by the parallax Δ and distance measurement on both sides. An image is formed on each of the imaging regions 32a1 and 32b1 of the image pickup devices 32a and 32b, received by a plurality of pixels (light receiving elements), and converted into an image signal (electric signal).

  The parallax is Δ, the distance (base length) between the optical axes of the distance measuring lenses 5a and 5b is D, the distance between the distance measuring lenses 5a and 5b and the subject a is L, and the distance measuring lenses 5a and 5b. When the focal length of f is f and L >> f, the following equation (1) is established.

      L = D · f / Δ Expression (1)

  Therefore, since D and f are known, the distance between the distance measuring lenses 5a and 5b and the subject a is calculated by calculating the parallax Δ based on the image signals output from the pixels of the imaging regions 32a1 and 32b1. L can be calculated.

(Normal monitoring operation, still image shooting operation)
Next, normal monitoring operation and still image shooting operation of the digital camera 1 will be described.

  Even during the monitoring operation before actual shooting, the control unit 24 drives and controls the focus lens driving unit 26 based on the distance information input from the distance measurement processing unit 33 of the distance measuring device 3, and the imaging lens. Focus control for moving the second focus lens group to the in-focus position is performed, and a subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD image sensor 21.

  Further, the signal processing unit 12 calculates the luminance of the subject based on the image signal converted into the digital signal captured from the CCD image sensor 21. The calculated luminance information of the subject is output to the control unit 24. Then, the control unit 24 determines the open state (aperture value) of the aperture unit 20 and the number of times of the electronic shutter of the CCD image sensor 21 so as to obtain an appropriate exposure amount for the subject based on the input luminance information. Set. The open state of the aperture unit 20 is controlled by driving the aperture unit drive unit 27.

  At this time, the liquid crystal monitor 8 displays an image (moving image) at the time of the monitoring operation. The liquid crystal monitor 8 displays an image obtained by thinning the number of pixels with respect to the image signal from the CCD image sensor 21.

  When the release button 6 is pressed during the monitoring operation, the subject is in focus in accordance with the distance information from the distance measuring device 3 and in an appropriate exposure condition (the number of electronic shutters of the CCD image sensor 21). The subject is photographed with the aperture value of the aperture unit 20. Then, the signal processor 24 digitally processes the image signal output from the CCD image sensor 21 and converts it into image data that can be displayed or recorded. The image data generated by the signal processing unit 24 is recorded on the memory card 28 and displayed as a still image on the liquid crystal monitor 8.

  The control unit 24 includes a face detection unit 24a. The face detection unit 24a, for example, reads out luminance data of each area in the imaging screen and performs matching with a pre-stored human face eye and nose luminance pattern template to thereby be a main subject region. A process for detecting a human face is performed. Plural types of brightness pattern templates are stored in advance in a ROM (not shown), and a person's face is obtained by pattern matching in each area in the imaging screen with the brightness pattern templates of each size. Part detection. When the face of a person is detected, even if the face of the person moves within the imaging screen, it is tracked and the detection state is maintained.

  Further, the face detection unit 24a has a function of detecting the face of a pet such as a dog or a cat in addition to detecting the face of a person.

(Sub-screen display operation during monitoring)
Next, the display operation of the small screen during monitoring will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, an image (hereinafter referred to as “first image”) obtained by the imaging unit (the photographic lens 2 and the CCD image sensor 21) is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 during the normal monitoring described above. ) Is displayed. In the figure, two persons are displayed as main subjects, and a face detection frame indicating that a face is detected around the faces (main subject region) of the two persons. A is displayed. Further, the angle of view of the first image displayed on the entire screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 is that when the photographing lens 2 is set to the wide angle side by operating the wide angle side zoom switch 10.

  Then, by operating the menu button 11 to select “sub-screen display” (not shown) on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 and pressing the confirm button 12, the liquid crystal monitor 8 is displayed as shown in FIG. The child screen 30 is displayed so as to be superimposed on the lower right area of the screen (main screen). Note that the first image displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 shown in FIG. 5B is the one when the photographic lens 2 is set to the telephoto side by operating the telephoto zoom switch 9 and is used as the main subject. The area near the face of these two people is zoomed up. In FIG. 5, the main subject is an example of two people, but the main subject may be one person or three or more people.

  The sub screen 30 displays an image (hereinafter referred to as a “second image”) obtained by one of the ranging imaging units (ranging lens 5a, ranging imaging element 32a) of the ranging device 3. Is done. The sub-screen 30 has an image (a little parallax with respect to the second image) obtained by the other ranging imaging unit (ranging lens 5b, ranging imaging element 32b) of the ranging device 3. Only substantially the same image) may be displayed.

  The angle of view of the second image displayed on the child screen 30 substantially corresponds to when the photographing lens 2 is set to the wide angle side. Therefore, the angle of view of the second image displayed on the sub-screen 30 in FIG. 5B substantially corresponds to the angle of view of the first image displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 in FIG. .

  Thus, the angle of view of the second image displayed on the child screen 30 is substantially the same as the angle of view of the image when the photographic lens 2 is set to the wide-angle side, only with a different screen size. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the desired area of the first image displayed on the entire screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 (in the figure, the vicinity of the faces of two persons as the main subject area) is zoomed up. Even in this case, by confirming the second image displayed on the child screen 30, it is possible to easily grasp which part of the main subject is being photographed.

  By the way, as described above, the sub-screen 30 is initially set to be displayed in the lower right region in the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8. For this reason, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, at the time of monitoring, a desired area of the first image displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 (in the figure, the faces of two persons as main subject areas) If a part of the main subject area (near the face of a person) is hidden on the sub-screen 30 when the zoom is zoomed up, it becomes difficult to grasp the entire main subject area.

  Therefore, the control unit 24 of the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that a part of the main subject region (for example, near the face of a person) in the first image displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 is a sub-screen during monitoring. When it is determined whether or not a part of the main subject area is hidden on the child screen 30, the child screen 30 is moved to another position or the size of the child screen 30 is determined. Control to reduce the size. Hereinafter, this control will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  At the time of monitoring, as shown in FIG. 5B, the child screen 30 is displayed in the lower right area (set position) in the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 (step S1). At this time, it is determined whether or not a part of the area of the face detection frame A around the main subject area (near the face of the person) displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 overlaps the child screen 30 ( Step S2).

  If it is determined in step S2 that a part of the area of the face detection frame A overlaps with the child screen 30 (step S2: YES), the entire screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 is made plural as shown in FIG. Divide (12 (3 × 4) in the figure as a whole) and determine whether or not the face detection frame A around the main subject area (near the face of a person) is located with respect to the entire divided area (Step S3).

  Each divided area is set to be slightly larger than the size of the child screen 30. Therefore, when the child screen 30 is positioned in a divided region where the face detection frame A is not located in each divided region, the region of the face detection frame A does not overlap the child screen 30. That is, in FIG. 7, when the child screen 30 is positioned in the upper left divided area a1 or the right adjacent divided area a2, the area of the face detection frame A does not overlap the child screen 30.

  In the present embodiment, the priority of the display position of the child screen 30 is the lower right area (setting position) → the lower left area → the upper left area → the upper right area in the entire screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 in descending order of priority. Is set to Therefore, in FIG. 7, there is another face detection frame A area in the lower left area of the screen, so that the child screen 30 can be positioned in the upper left area (divided area a1) of the screen. Note that the priority of the display position of the sub-screen 30 is not limited to the above display position pattern, and when a plurality of display position patterns are stored in advance, the photographer can select an arbitrary display position pattern. .

  When it is determined in step S3 that there is a divided area where the face detection frame A around the main subject area (near the face of the person) is not located with respect to the entire divided area (step S3: NO), As described above, the child screen 30 is moved to the upper left area (divided area a1) of the screen (step S4). As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the child screen 30 is displayed in the upper left area of the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8.

  In step S3, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the face detection frame A around the main subject area (near the face of a person) is positioned so as to cover all the divided areas with respect to the entire divided areas. 10 (step S3: YES), as shown in FIG. 10, the size of the child screen 30 is reduced without changing the size of the child screen 30 so as not to be hidden by the face detection frame A (step S5). As shown in FIG. 9, the face detection frame A is positioned so as to cover all the divided areas. When the main subject is zoomed up at a high magnification, or the main subject has approached the camera side. Cases.

  In step S4, when the child screen 30 is reduced to a predetermined size or less, the child screen 30 is not displayed because the image in the child screen 30 becomes smaller and difficult to view.

  In step S5, the size of the child screen 30 may be reduced, and the reduced child screen 30 may be moved to another position (for example, the upper left area of the screen) and displayed.

  Since the above-described digital camera 1 continuously measures the distance from the monitoring device to the main subject area (for example, the face of a person) by the distance measuring device 3 and performs focus control, the main subject area is monitored. The main subject area can be displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 8 by tracking the moving object. Further, when the sub screen 30 is displayed superimposed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 during monitoring, control based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is performed.

  Therefore, at the time of monitoring, for example, as shown in FIG. 11A, a main subject region (a person's face) surrounded by a face detection frame A zoomed up on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 and a child screen 30 are displayed. Even if the main subject area moves while being displayed in the upper left area of the screen, the child screen 30 is automatically moved to a position that does not overlap the face detection frame A as shown in FIG. Can be displayed. In FIG. 11B, the child screen 30 is displayed in the upper right area of the screen.

  The face detection unit 24a also has a function of detecting the face of a pet such as a dog or a cat in addition to detecting the face of a person. Therefore, at the time of monitoring, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the sub screen 30 is displayed in the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 at the time of monitoring, one ranging imaging unit of the distance measuring device 3 is displayed on the sub screen 30. For example, the entire dog (main subject) obtained by the distance measuring lens 5a and the distance measuring image sensor 32a is displayed. Then, when the face portion of the dog, which is the main subject area surrounded by the face detection frame A zoomed up, is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8, the child screen 30 is positioned so as not to overlap the face detection frame A as described above. Can be moved and displayed automatically. In FIG. 12, the sub-screen 30 is displayed in the lower left area of the screen.

  As described above, according to the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, the main subject (for example, the entire person) having the angle of view set on the wide angle side is displayed on the sub screen 30 in the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8. Which area of the main subject is zoomed in by checking the image on the sub-screen 30 when a predetermined area (for example, the face of a person) of the main object zoomed up is displayed on the screen of the monitor 8 Can be easily grasped.

  Furthermore, the position of the child screen 30 is moved so that the child screen 30 does not overlap a part of a predetermined area (for example, a human face) of the main subject zoomed up on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8. Since the size of the screen 30 can be reduced (or both), it is possible to always grasp the entire predetermined area (for example, the face of a person) of the main subject that has been zoomed up without being blocked by the sub-screen 30. it can.

  In the first embodiment, the distance measuring device is also used as the second imaging unit. However, a configuration including a dedicated imaging device may be used.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 13A is a front view showing a digital camera as an example of an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, FIG. 13B is a view showing the back side of the digital camera, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an outline of a system configuration of the digital camera shown in FIG.

  The digital camera of this embodiment is a 3D camera capable of recording and displaying a stereoscopically viewable image. Components having the same functions as those of the digital camera according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted (for two photographing lenses and a CCD image sensor). , First and second photographing lenses 2a and 2b, and first and second CCD image sensors 21a and 21b).

  The control unit 24 of the digital camera (hereinafter referred to as “3D camera”) according to the present embodiment applies each image signal captured from the first and second CCD image sensors 21 a and 21 b via the signal processing unit 22. Based on this, auto focus control is performed. Specifically, the control unit 23 captures each image signal output from the first and second CCD image sensors 21a and 21b via the signal processing unit 12, and performs AF (automatic focusing) from the captured pixel output signal. ) Calculate the evaluation value.

  This AF evaluation value is calculated by, for example, the output integral value of the high frequency component extraction filter or the integral value of the luminance difference between adjacent pixels. When in the in-focus state, the edge portion of the subject is clear, so the high frequency component is the highest. Using this, during the AF operation (focus detection operation), the AF evaluation values at the respective focus positions of the first and second photographing lenses 2a and 2b are acquired, and the point at which the local maximum is reached. An AF operation is performed as the focus detection position.

  As shown in FIG. 13 (a), on the front (front) side of the 3D camera 1a according to the present embodiment, two first and second photographing lenses 2a and 2b having an optical zoom function are arranged at predetermined intervals on the left and right. Is arranged. In this 3D camera 1a, a first imaging unit (first photographing lens 2a, first CCD image sensor 21a) and a second imaging unit (second photographing lens 2b, second CCD image sensor 21b). It is possible to simultaneously record two images having the same angle of view obtained by the above.

  Then, by displaying the two images with parallax on the liquid crystal monitor 8 specially processed for 3D display, the photographer can stereoscopically view the photographed subject image. It should be noted that a subject image (moving image) that can be viewed stereoscopically is also displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 8 during monitoring.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the first and second photographing lenses 2 a and 2 b are each provided with a focus lens driving unit 25, a zoom lens driving unit 26, and a diaphragm unit driving unit 27. With this control, the focus lens group, the zoom lens group, and the aperture unit 20 of the first and second photographing lenses 2a and 2b can be driven synchronously or individually. The 3D camera 1a also has a function of displaying the child screen 30 described in the first embodiment so as to overlap the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8.

  Therefore, in the 3D camera 1a, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the small screen 30 is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 at the time of monitoring, the small image is displayed on the small image on the small screen 30. It is possible to display an image (in the figure, two person images as main subjects) in a state where the second photographing lens 2b obtained by the photographing lens 2b and the second CCD image sensor 21b) is set to the wide angle side. it can. On the other hand, on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8, a zoomed-up image obtained by the first imaging unit (the first photographing lens 2a and the first CCD image sensor 21a) (in the figure, two people as main subject areas). Near the face of a person).

  In the 3D camera 1a, as in the first embodiment, when the child screen 30 is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8 during monitoring, control based on the flowchart shown in FIG. The child screen 30 can be automatically moved to a position that does not overlap the face detection frame A displayed on the screen. In FIG. 13B, the child screen 30 is displayed in the upper left area of the screen.

  Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the main subject (for example, the entire person) having the angle of view set on the wide angle side is displayed on the sub-screen 30 in the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8, thereby zooming in on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8. It is possible to easily grasp which area of the main subject is zoomed up by confirming the image on the sub-screen 30 when a predetermined area (for example, the face of a person) of the main object is displayed. it can.

  Furthermore, the position of the child screen 30 is moved so that the child screen 30 does not overlap a part of a predetermined area (for example, a human face) of the main subject zoomed up on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8. Since the size of the screen 30 can be reduced (or both), it is possible to always grasp the entire main subject region that has been zoomed up without being blocked by the child screen 30.

  As described above, the 3D camera 1a sets the second photographing lens 2b to the wide-angle side during monitoring and displays the image on the sub-screen 30, and zooms up the first photographing lens 2a to display the image. Can be displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8, but in order to obtain two images having the same angle of view with parallax at the time of shooting, the angles of view of both the first and second shooting lenses 2a and 2b are set. Must be the same. During this monitoring, the first photographing lens 2a is zoomed in and set to the telephoto side, and the second photographing lens 2b is set to the wide angle side.

  Therefore, when shooting is performed by depressing the release button 6 from the above monitoring, first, the zoom lens driving unit 26 on the second shooting lens 2b side is driven by the control of the control unit 24, and the wide angle side is driven. The second photographic lens 2b set to is driven to the telephoto side. Then, after the angle of view of the second photographic lens 2b is matched with the angle of view of the first photographic lens 2a, a photographing operation is executed, and two images with the same angle of view with parallax are recorded simultaneously.

  Then, at the time of monitoring after the photographing, the second photographing lens 2b is set again to the wide angle side as described above, and the image is displayed on the sub screen 30. In addition, on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 8, a zoomed-up image obtained by the first imaging unit (the first photographing lens 2a and the first CCD image sensor 21a) is displayed.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention is applied when an image at the time of monitoring is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor (display means). However, the recorded image (reproduced image) is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor. In some cases, the present invention can be similarly applied.

  That is, the entire reproduced image is displayed as a second monitoring image on the child screen, and an image obtained by enlarging a part of the entire reproduced image is displayed as a first monitoring image on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor. In the case of a reproduced image, not only the center of the image but also an enlarged portion can be set, and face detection can be similarly performed using a recorded image. In this case, the reproduced image may be a still image or a moving image. In the case of a moving image, in addition to the state of image enlargement, the position of the sub-screen is changed by a change in composition with the passage of time.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 1a 3D camera 2 Shooting lens 2a 1st shooting lens 2b 2nd shooting lens 3 Distance measuring device 8 Liquid crystal monitor 24 Control part 30 Subscreen

Japanese Patent No. 4050385

Claims (10)

First imaging means having a first imaging element on which a subject image is formed through a first imaging optical system;
A second imaging means having a second imaging element on which the subject image is formed through a second imaging optical system;
At the time of monitoring before shooting, the first monitoring image obtained by the first imaging unit is displayed on the main screen, and the captured image of the first monitoring image obtained by the second imaging unit is displayed. Display means for displaying a second monitoring image including an angular range on a sub-screen superimposed on a predetermined position of the main screen;
A main subject region is detected from the first monitoring image or the second monitoring image based on image information obtained by the first imaging unit or the second imaging unit, and the main subject region is detected during monitoring. An imaging apparatus comprising: control means for controlling display of the sub-screen so that the sub-screen does not overlap the main subject area displayed on the screen. A first imaging unit having a first imaging element on which a subject image is formed through a first imaging optical system having a zoom optical system, and the imaging optical axis are separated from the first imaging unit by a predetermined distance. And a second imaging unit having a second imaging element on which the subject image is formed through a second imaging optical system having a zoom optical system, and each of the first and second A displayable imaging device capable of generating a 3D image from each image obtained by an imaging means,
During monitoring before shooting, the zoomed-up first monitoring image obtained by the first imaging unit is displayed on the main screen and set to the wide-angle side obtained by the second imaging unit. Display means capable of displaying a second monitoring image on a sub-screen superimposed on a predetermined position of the main screen;
A main subject region is detected from the first monitoring image or the second monitoring image based on image information obtained by the first imaging unit or the second imaging unit, and the main subject region is detected during monitoring. An imaging apparatus comprising: control means for controlling display of the sub-screen so that the sub-screen does not overlap the main subject area displayed on the screen.   The control means performs control to move and / or reduce the size of the child screen so that the child screen does not overlap the main subject region in the main screen. The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2.   The control means divides a screen area of the entire main screen into a plurality of block areas, and displays the child screen in a block area where the detected main subject area does not exist. The imaging device according to any one of the above.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit hides the child screen when the detected main subject region covers all block regions. Further comprising focusing means for tracking the main subject area and automatically controlling the in-focus state,
The said control means controls the display of the said subscreen so that the said subscreen does not overlap according to the said main subject area | region tracked by the said focusing means. The imaging device according to item.   The control means detects all the main subject areas when there are a plurality of the main subject areas, and controls the display of the sub-screen so that the sub-screen does not overlap all the main subject areas. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit detects a human face area and / or a pet face area as the main subject area.   The control means displays the detected main subject area as a rectangular frame area so as to overlap the main screen, and controls display of the sub screen so that the sub screen does not overlap the rectangular frame area. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein A first imaging unit having a first imaging element that forms a subject image through a first imaging optical system; and a second imaging element that forms the subject image through a second imaging optical system. A method for displaying a monitoring image of an imaging apparatus comprising a second imaging means,
During monitoring before shooting, the first monitoring image obtained by the first imaging unit is displayed on the main screen of the display unit, and the first monitoring image obtained by the second imaging unit is displayed. A first step of displaying a second monitoring image including a photographing field angle range on a sub-screen superimposed on a predetermined position of the main screen;
A main subject region is detected from the first monitoring image or the second monitoring image based on image information obtained by the first imaging unit or the second imaging unit, and the main subject region is detected during monitoring. And a second step of moving and / or reducing the size of the sub-screen so that the sub-screen does not overlap the main subject area displayed on the screen. Method.