JP2013046338A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly change, in an imaging mode to output an image signal from a partial region, into an imaging operation in consideration of the presence or absence of a face image beyond the range of the partial region.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus has a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode, and includes a photometric sensor 36 and an imaging element 32. An image obtained from the entire imaging surface of the photometric sensor 36 is outputted to a face detection section 383, and a face image is detected from the image by the face detection section 383. A position determination section 384 determines whether or not the face image detected by the face detection section 383 is inside or outside a partial region 102 in an imaging surface of the imaging element 32. In step S302 in Fig. 6, a body-side control device 38 determines whether or not the face image is considered when performing an imaging operation using a second imaging means in the second imaging mode, on the basis of a determination result obtained by the position determination section.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  In addition to the normal imaging mode in which image signals are output from the entire imaging area of the imaging element (hereinafter referred to as the first imaging mode), the imaging mode in which image signals are output from the partial area of the imaging area (hereinafter referred to as the second imaging mode). There is known a digital single lens reflex camera equipped with (refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-166144 A

  In the second imaging mode, when the imaging device is set based on the detection result of the face detection and the imaging operation is performed, it is not necessary to consider the face image that exists outside the partial region range. However, there is a demand for an imaging apparatus that can quickly switch to an imaging operation that also considers face images that exist outside the partial area range when the second imaging mode is switched to the first imaging mode.

The invention according to claim 1 is an imaging apparatus having a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode, and outputs an image signal based on a light beam received by an imaging surface, and is in the first imaging mode. Imaging means for acquiring an image from the image signal of the first area of the imaging surface, and acquiring an image from the image signal of the second area smaller than the first area of a part of the imaging surface in the second imaging mode; A face detecting means for detecting a face image from an image signal output from the first area of the imaging means, and a position of the face image detected by the face detecting means is either inside or outside of the second area of the imaging means. A position determining unit for determining, and a determining unit for determining whether or not to consider a face image when performing an imaging operation in the second imaging mode based on a determination result of the position determining unit. To do.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus having a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode, a first imaging means for outputting an image signal based on a light beam received by an imaging surface, and imaging An image signal based on the light beam received by the surface is output, an image is acquired from the image signal of the first area of the imaging surface in the first imaging mode, and a part of the imaging surface in the second imaging mode A face image is detected from an image signal output from the image pickup area of the first image pickup means corresponding to the first area and a second image pickup means for acquiring an image from the image signal of the second area smaller than the first area A position detecting unit that determines whether the position of the face image detected by the face detecting unit is inside or outside the second region on the imaging surface of the second imaging unit, and determination by the position determining unit Based on the result, the second imaging mode is the second Characterized in that it comprises a determination means for determining whether to consider the facial image when performing an imaging operation using the image pickup means.

  It is possible to quickly switch to an imaging operation that takes into account the presence or absence of a face image outside the partial region range.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the imaging device by one embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the functional block diagram of the imaging device by one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating imaging mode. It is an example of the flowchart regarding the process for imaging a to-be-photographed object image in the imaging device by one embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the flowchart regarding the process for imaging a to-be-photographed object image in the imaging device by one embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the flowchart regarding the process for imaging a to-be-photographed object image in the imaging device by one embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the imaging device in the modification of this invention.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an imaging device including a photometric device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The imaging apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is a digital single-lens reflex camera, and includes an interchangeable lens 2 and a camera body 3. The interchangeable lens 2 of the camera 1 is attached to the camera body 3 in a replaceable manner by a mount unit (not shown).

  The interchangeable lens 2 includes an imaging optical system 21 including a focusing lens and a zooming lens, a diaphragm 22, and a lens-side control device 23. The lens side control device 23 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The lens-side control device 23 performs processing such as drive control and state detection of the imaging optical system 21 and the aperture 22.

  The camera body 3 includes a quick return mirror 31, an image sensor 32, a finder screen 33, a pentaprism 34, a re-imaging optical system 35, a photometric sensor 36, an eyepiece lens 37, a body side control device 38, a display unit 39, and an operation member 40. With.

  A light beam from the subject enters the camera body 3 via the imaging optical system 21. When the quick return mirror 31 is at the position shown in the figure, the subject light beam incident on the camera body 3 is reflected by the quick return mirror 31 and forms an image on the diffusing surface of the finder screen 33. The light beam transmitted through the finder screen 33 enters the pentaprism 34. The subject luminous flux incident on the pentaprism 34 along the finder optical system optical axis 41 is guided to the eyepiece lens 37 by the pentaprism 34. The subject light flux incident on the pentaprism 34 along the optical axis 42 of the photometry optical system is guided to the re-imaging optical system 35 by the pentaprism 34. The re-imaging optical system 35 has a re-imaging lens and re-images the subject light flux incident along the photometric optical system optical axis 42 on the light receiving surface of the photometric sensor 36. When the quick return mirror 31 is in the retracted state, the subject luminous flux incident on the camera body 3 is guided to the image sensor 32.

  The image sensor 32 and the photometric sensor 36 have pixels arranged two-dimensionally on their light receiving surfaces. Each pixel has a color filter of red (R), green (G), or blue (B), and is arranged on the light receiving surface based on the Bayer arrangement. When each pixel receives the subject luminous flux, charges are accumulated, and the accumulated charges are read out as a color image signal by the body-side control device 38.

  The body-side control device 38 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and controls various parts of the camera body 3 to execute various processes. The display unit 39 is a liquid crystal monitor, and reproduces and displays various menu screens and captured images. The operation member 40 is a release switch, a power switch, a function switch, or the like.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a functional block diagram of the camera 1. FIG. 2 shows a first imaging unit 381, a switching unit 382, a face detection unit 383, a position determination unit 384, and a second imaging unit 385 as an example of functions of the camera 1. The processing of each unit illustrated in FIG. 2 is executed by the body side control device 38.

  The first imaging unit 381 reads a color image signal from the entire imaging surface of the photometric sensor 36. Further, the first imaging unit 381 acquires an image related to the subject image based on the read color image signal, and outputs the acquired image to the face detection unit 383.

  The camera 1 has at least two imaging modes, a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode. The switching unit 382 switches the imaging mode of the camera 1 based on an input signal from the operation member 40. For example, when a predetermined function switch is pressed when the camera 1 is in the first imaging mode, the camera 1 is switched to the second imaging mode. Further, when a predetermined function switch is pressed when the camera 1 is in the second imaging mode, the mode is switched to the first imaging mode. The switching unit 382 stores information on the imaging mode of the camera 1 in the RAM of the body-side control device 38, and the information is referred to by the position determination unit 384, the second imaging unit 385, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining each imaging mode of the camera 1. FIG. 3A shows an example of a subject image formed on the imaging surface of the image sensor 32. The imaging surface 100 illustrated in FIG. 3A includes face images 101a to 101c as subject images. When the imaging mode of the camera 1 is the first imaging mode, a subject image of the entire imaging surface 100 is captured.

  FIG. 3B shows a partial region 102 surrounded by a broken line in the imaging surface 100. When the imaging mode of the camera 1 is the second imaging mode, a subject image inside the partial area 102 is captured.

  The partial area 102 is stored in advance in the ROM of the body-side control device 38, and there are a plurality of sizes. For example, there are partial areas 102 for panoramic imaging, trimming imaging, and for an imaging mode called crop high-speed imaging, and there may be a plurality of partial areas for each shooting mode. The crop high-speed imaging mode is an imaging mode in which continuous imaging is performed at high speed instead of storing only images in the partial area. In the crop high-speed imaging mode, continuous imaging can be performed at a higher speed as the range of the partial area becomes narrower.

  The face detection unit 383 detects a face image from an image based on the color image signal of the entire imaging surface of the photometric sensor 36. The range of the imaging surface of the photometric sensor 36 in which the face detection unit 383 detects a face image is the entire imaging surface of the photometric sensor 36 regardless of the imaging mode of the camera 1. The face detection unit 383 calculates the position and brightness of the face image for the detected face image and stores it in the RAM of the body side control device 38.

  The position of the face image calculated by the face detection unit 383 is, for example, the center coordinates of the face image. The position determination unit 384 is configured to display a partial region of the image sensor 32 in the imaging mode of the camera 1 in which the position on the image sensor 32 corresponding to the position of each face image calculated by the face detection unit 383 is switched by the switching unit 382. Determine whether it is inside or outside. The position determination unit 384 reads out information related to the imaging mode stored in the RAM by the switching unit 382, and reads out information related to the partial area from the ROM of the body side control device 38 based on the information.

  The determination result of the determination performed by the position determination unit 384 is stored as a flag in the RAM of the body-side control device 38 together with information such as the position and brightness regarding each face image calculated by the face detection unit 383. Hereinafter, information such as position and brightness related to each face image and flag information of the determination result of the position determination unit 384 are referred to as face information.

  The second image capturing unit 385 performs an image capturing operation for capturing a subject image using the image sensor 32. The imaging operation performed by the second imaging unit 385 is based on the imaging mode of the camera 1, the detection result of the face detection unit 383, the determination result of the position determination unit 384, and the operation of the operation member 40.

(1) When the imaging mode of the camera 1 is the second imaging mode The second imaging unit 385 captures the subject image formed in the partial area of the imaging surface of the imaging element 32 when the camera 1 is in the second imaging mode. To do. The setting value of the camera 1 when the second imaging unit 385 captures a subject image is calculated based on the detection result of the face detection unit 383 and the determination result of the position determination unit 384. The set value of the camera 1 is, for example, the exposure time of the image sensor 32, the aperture value of the aperture 22, and the like.

  When the position determination unit 384 determines that the face image detected by the face detection unit 383 is within the partial area, the second imaging unit 385 is based on the face information of the face image inside the partial area. The set value of the camera 1 is calculated. The face information of the face image outside the partial area is not used for calculating the setting value of the camera 1. For example, the setting value of the camera 1 is calculated so that the face image inside the partial area is appropriately exposed.

  Then, when there is an imaging instruction from the user via a release switch included in the operation member 40, an imaging operation using the imaging element 32 is performed based on the calculated setting value of the camera 1, and the imaging element 32. The subject image in the partial area of the imaging surface is captured.

(2) When the imaging mode of the camera 1 is the first imaging mode The second imaging unit 385 captures a subject image formed on the entire imaging surface of the imaging element 32 when the camera 1 is in the first imaging mode. The setting value of the camera 1 when the second imaging unit 385 captures the subject image is calculated based on the detection result of the face detection unit 383.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a flowchart relating to processing executed by the body-side control device 38 when a subject image is captured by the camera 1. In step S100 of FIG. 4, the body side control device 38 executes the first imaging unit 381. Through this process, the color image signal read from the entire imaging surface of the photometric sensor 36 is output to the face detection unit 383.

  In step S <b> 200, the body side control device 38 executes the face detection unit 383 and the position determination unit 384 to create face information based on the color image signal read from the entire imaging surface of the photometric sensor 36.

  In step S300, the body-side control device 38 executes the second imaging unit 385 based on the imaging mode of the camera 1, the face information created in step S200, and the like. The body side control apparatus 38 will return to step S100, if the 2nd imaging part 385 is performed.

  Hereinafter, processing in each step of FIG. 4 will be described using a flowchart. In the following description, it is assumed that the imaging mode of the camera 1 is the first imaging mode and the second imaging mode.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a flowchart regarding the process of step S200 of FIG. In step S201 in FIG. 5, the body-side control device 38 detects a face image based on the image signal of the entire imaging surface of the photometric sensor 36 read in step S100 in FIG.

  In step S202 of FIG. 5, the body-side control device 38 determines whether or not a face image is detected in step S201. If a face image is detected in step S201, the process proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, if no face image is detected in step S201, the processing in FIG.

  In step S203, the body side control apparatus 38 calculates the positional information about each face image detected in step S201. For example, a calculation for calculating the center position of each face image is executed. The position information of each face image obtained by the calculation is stored as face information in the RAM of the body side control device 38.

  In step S204, the body side control device 38 calculates the luminance information of each face image detected in step S201. The luminance information of each face image obtained by the calculation is stored in the RAM of the body side control device 38 together with the position information stored as the face information in step S203.

  In step S205, the body-side control device 38 executes the position determination unit 384 and determines whether each face image detected in step S201 is inside or outside the partial region. The body-side control device 38 stores the determination result in the RAM of the body-side control device 38 together with the position information and luminance information stored as face information in step S203 and step S204.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a flowchart regarding the process of step S300 of FIG. In step S301 in FIG. 6, the body-side control device 38 determines whether or not the imaging mode of the camera 1 is the second imaging mode. When the imaging mode of the camera 1 is the second imaging mode, the process of FIG. 6 proceeds to step S302. When the imaging mode of the camera 1 is not the second imaging mode, that is, when the camera 1 is in the first imaging mode, the process of FIG. 6 proceeds to step S305.

  In step S302 in FIG. 6, the body-side control device 38 determines whether the position of the face image detected in step S203 in FIG. 5 is outside or inside the partial area in the second imaging mode. This determination is performed based on the face information created in step S200 of FIG. For example, the body-side control device 38 sets the importance of the face image based on the face information of each face image for the face image detected in step S203 in FIG. For example, the importance of the face image that is close to the center of the partial area of the imaging surface is set high. Then, for example, when the face image having the highest importance of the face image is selected and the position of the face image is outside the partial area, the process of FIG. 6 is advanced to step S303, and when the face image is inside the partial area, The process of 6 advances to step S304.

  In step S303 and step S304 in FIG. 6, the body-side control device 38 calculates a setting value of the camera 1 for imaging the partial area. In step S303, the body-side control device 38 calculates the setting value of the camera 1 without considering the face image selected in step S302. For example, a luminance signal or the like is calculated for the image acquired in step S100 in FIG. 4 without distinguishing it from the face image, and the setting value of the camera 1 is calculated based on the luminance signal.

  On the other hand, in step S304, the body side control device 38 calculates the set value of the camera 1 in consideration of the face information of the face image selected in step S302. For example, a luminance signal or the like is calculated based on the selected face image, and a setting value of the camera 1 is calculated based on the luminance signal.

  In step S305, the body-side control device 38 calculates a setting value of the camera 1 for imaging the entire imaging surface. The body-side control device 38 calculates the set value of the camera 1 by a known method based on the face information calculated in step S200 of FIG.

  In step S <b> 306, the body side control device 38 determines whether or not the user has given an imaging instruction via the operation member 40. If it is determined that there has been an imaging instruction, the processing in FIG. 5 proceeds to step S307. If it is determined that there has been no imaging instruction, the processing in FIG. 5 is terminated, and the processing in FIG. 4 proceeds to step S100.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
A camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode, and includes a photometric sensor 36 and an imaging element 32. An image acquired from the entire imaging surface of the photometric sensor 36 is output to the face detection unit 383, and a face image is detected from the image by the face detection unit 383. The position determination unit 384 determines whether the face image detected by the face detection unit 383 is inside or outside the partial region 102 on the imaging surface of the imaging element 32. In step S302 of FIG. 6, the body-side control device 38 considers the face image when performing the imaging operation using the second imaging unit in the second imaging mode based on the determination result of the position determination unit. Determine whether or not. As a result, in the second imaging mode, the imaging operation can be promptly switched to an imaging operation that takes into account the presence or absence of a face image outside the partial area range.

The embodiment described above can be implemented with the following modifications.
In the above embodiment, the camera 1 is a digital single-lens reflex camera, but is not limited thereto. For example, a compact camera may be used.

  For example, in the case of a compact camera, the face detection unit 383 may detect a face image from an image acquired from the entire imaging surface of the imaging device 32 like the face detection unit 386 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the position information of the face image, the luminance information, and the determination result of the position determination unit 384 are stored as the face information, but other information may be further stored. For example, the size of each face image may be stored.

  In step S302 in FIG. 6, a face image having a high importance level of the face image is selected from the face images detected in step S203 in FIG. 5. Judged about. However, the determination method in step S302 in FIG. 6 is not limited to this method. When all the face image positions detected in step S203 in FIG. 5 are out of the range of the partial area, the process in FIG. 6 proceeds to step S303, and even one face image position is in the range of the partial area. May proceed to step S304.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the first imaging unit 381 and the second imaging unit 385 in the first imaging mode acquire images from the entire imaging surface of the photometric sensor 36 and the imaging element 32 has been described. It may not be the entire surface. The partial area for acquiring an image in the second imaging mode may be a part of the area for acquiring an image in the first imaging mode.

  The embodiment and each modification described above are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these contents as long as the features of the invention are not impaired.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera 2 Interchangeable lens 3 Camera body 21 Imaging optical system 22 Aperture 23 Lens side control device 31 Quick return mirror 32 Image sensor 33 Viewfinder screen 34 Penta prism 35 Reimaging optical system 36 Photometric sensor 37 Eyepiece lens 38 Body side control device 39 Display unit 40 Operation member 381 First imaging unit 382 Switching unit 383, 386 Face detection unit 384 Position determination unit 385 Second imaging unit

Claims (4)

An imaging apparatus having a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode,
An image signal based on the light beam received by the imaging surface is output, an image is acquired from the image signal of the first area of the imaging surface in the first imaging mode, and an imaging surface is acquired in the second imaging mode. Imaging means for acquiring an image from an image signal of a second region smaller than a part of the first region;
Face detection means for detecting a face image from an image signal output from the first region of the imaging means;
Position determination means for determining whether the position of the face image detected by the face detection means is inside or outside the second region of the imaging means;
A determination unit that determines whether or not to consider a face image when performing an imaging operation in the second imaging mode based on a determination result of the position determination unit;
An imaging apparatus comprising: The imaging device according to claim 1,
When in the second imaging mode,
When the position determining unit determines that the position of the face image is outside the second region, the determining unit determines that the face image is not taken into account, and the imaging operation using the imaging unit without taking the face image into consideration And
When the position determination unit determines that the position of the face image is inside the second region, the determination unit determines to consider the face image, and performs an imaging operation that considers the face image using the imaging unit. An imaging device characterized in that it performs. An imaging apparatus having a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode,
First imaging means for outputting an image signal based on a light beam received by the imaging surface;
An image signal based on the light beam received by the imaging surface is output, an image is acquired from the image signal of the first area of the imaging surface in the first imaging mode, and an imaging surface is acquired in the second imaging mode. A second imaging means for acquiring an image from an image signal of a second area smaller than a part of the first area;
Face detection means for detecting a face image from an image signal output from an imaging area of the first imaging means corresponding to the first area;
Position determination means for determining whether the position of the face image detected by the face detection means is either inside or outside of the second region on the imaging surface of the second imaging means;
Determining means for determining whether or not to consider a face image when performing an imaging operation using the second imaging means in the second imaging mode based on a determination result of the position determining means; An imaging apparatus characterized by that. The imaging device according to claim 3.
When in the second imaging mode,
When the position determination means determines that the position of the face image is outside the second region, the determination means determines that the face image is not considered, and the face image is considered using the second imaging means. Do not take an image,
When the position determination unit determines that the position of the face image is inside the second region, the determination unit determines to consider the face image, and considers the face image using the second imaging unit. An imaging device characterized by performing an imaging operation.

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