JP2013183235A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To switch a rotation angle of a half mirror to perform photographing.SOLUTION: A camera 100 includes: a half mirror which is attached to be rotatable with a rotation axis as a center and separates incident light from a lens into transmitted light and reflected light; control means for controlling the rotation angle of the half mirror; a first sensor which receives the incident light from the lens when the rotation angle of the half mirror is set to a first angle with which the half mirror is saved from the optical axis by the control means and receives the transmitted light of the half mirror when the rotation angle of the half mirror is set to a second or a third angle where the half mirror is arranged on the optical axis; a second sensor for receiving the reflected light of the half mirror when the rotation angle of the half mirror is set to the second angle; and a third sensor for receiving the reflected light of the half mirror when the rotation angle of the half mirror is set to the third angle.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  The following cameras are known. In this camera, light transmitted through a light control mirror is received by an image sensor (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-199269 A

  However, in the conventional camera, the light transmitted through the light control mirror is received by the image sensor, so that the light received by the image sensor at the time of shooting has a loss with respect to the incident light from the lens.

  An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is attached to be rotatable about a rotation axis, a half mirror that separates incident light from a lens into transmitted light and reflected light, a control unit that controls a rotation angle of the half mirror, and a control When the rotation angle of the half mirror is set to the first angle by which the half mirror is retracted from the optical axis, the incident light from the lens is received, and the rotation angle of the half mirror When the second or third angle arranged on the axis is set, the first sensor that receives the transmitted light of the half mirror and the half angle when the rotation angle of the half mirror is set to the second angle A second sensor that receives the reflected light of the mirror, and a third sensor that receives the reflected light of the half mirror when the rotation angle of the half mirror is set to the third angle. And features.

  According to the present invention, when the rotation angle of the half mirror is set to the first angle, the incident light from the lens can be received by the first sensor as it is during photographing.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of a camera. It is a figure which shows typically the example of arrangement | positioning in the state which rotated the rotation mirror 115 -45 degree | times. It is a figure which shows the time chart of the process in an initial state. It is a figure which shows typically the example of arrangement | positioning in the state which rotated the rotation mirror 115 -90 degree | times. It is a figure which shows the time chart of the process at the time of normal imaging | photography. It is a figure which shows typically the example of arrangement | positioning of the state which rotated the rotation mirror 115 +45 degree | times. It is a figure which shows the time chart of the process at the time of continuous shooting imaging | photography. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of an imaging | photography process. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of a process at the time of continuous shooting mode. It is a figure which shows the time chart of the process at the time of HDR imaging | photography.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a camera according to the present embodiment. The camera 100 includes an imaging element 101, an imaging control unit 102, an imaging element 103, an imaging control unit 104, an overall control unit 105, a photometric sensor 106, a photometric sensor control unit 107, an AF sensor 108, and an AF. Sensor control unit 109, aperture control unit 110, aperture 111, shutter control unit 112, shutter 113, rotary mirror control unit 114, rotary mirror 115, release button 116, continuous shooting high-speed mode setting unit 117 And a release mode setting unit 118.

  In the camera 100 according to the present embodiment, the imaging element 101 is controlled by the imaging control unit 102, and the imaging element 103 is controlled by the imaging control unit 104. The photometric sensor 106 is controlled by a photometric sensor control unit 107, and the AF sensor 108 is controlled by an AF sensor control unit 109. The diaphragm 111 is controlled by the diaphragm controller 110, the shutter 113 is controlled by the shutter controller 112, and the rotating mirror 115 is controlled by the rotating mirror controller 114. The overall control unit 105 controls the entire camera 100.

  The camera 100 includes two image sensors (image sensors) as shown in FIG. 1, and the overall control unit 105 includes a case in which the shooting mode is a continuous shooting mode in which a plurality of still images are shot continuously, and 1 The shooting method using these two image sensors is switched according to the normal mode in which a single still image is shot. In addition, the camera 100 according to the present embodiment includes a high-speed continuous shooting mode in which continuous shooting is performed at a speed higher than the continuous shooting speed in the normal continuous shooting mode. The shooting method is switched according to the high-speed continuous shooting mode. The shooting mode is set by the release mode setting unit 118 based on an instruction from the user, and the high-speed continuous shooting mode is set by the continuous shooting high-speed mode setting unit 117.

  A specific example of the shooting method switching according to the shooting mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, and 6 are diagrams schematically illustrating an arrangement example of the imaging element 101, the imaging element 103, the AF sensor 108, the shutter 113, and the rotating mirror 115, and the overall control unit 105 performs the rotating mirror control. The path of light incident from the lens can be switched by controlling the unit 114 to change the angle of the rotating mirror 115.

  FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a state in which the rotating mirror 115 is rotated by −45 degrees and arranged on the optical axis. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, the angle of the rotating mirror 115 is 0 degree in the vertical direction on FIG. 2A, and the right angle is rotated from the 0 degree state. The angle is represented by plus, and the rotation angle in the left direction from the 0 degree state is represented by minus. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, a state in which the rotating mirror 115 is rotated by −45 degrees is referred to as an initial state.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the rotating mirror 115 is configured to be rotatable in the optical axis direction around the rotating shaft 2a, and the overall control unit 105 rotates by giving an instruction to the rotating mirror control unit 114. The angle of the mirror 115 can be changed. The rotating mirror 115 is a half mirror. When the rotating mirror 115 is disposed on the optical axis as shown in FIG. 2A, the light 2 b incident from the lens is transmitted by the light 2 c transmitted through the rotating mirror 115 and the rotating mirror 115. Separated into reflected light 2d. As described above, the rotating mirror 115, which is a half mirror, is configured to be rotatable about the rotating shaft 2a, so that the rotating mirror 115 can be rotated in the direction corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotating mirror 115 without mounting a sub mirror as in the conventional camera. It can reflect light. In addition, it is possible to reduce the weight by mounting a rotary half mirror instead of a flip-up type like a conventional sub mirror.

  In the state shown in FIG. 2A, the transmitted light 2 c that passes through the rotating mirror 115 enters the image sensor 101 by opening the shutter 113 on the image sensor 101 side, and the reflected light 2 d enters the AF sensor 108. In the present embodiment, for example, when the power of the camera 100 is turned on, the overall control unit 105 rotates the angle of the rotary mirror 115 by −45 degrees and opens the shutter 113 on the image sensor 101 side to capture an image. The element 101 receives the transmitted light 2c. Then, the overall control unit 105 converts the image signal read from the image sensor 101 into display image data and displays it on an electronic viewfinder (EVF) (not shown). FIG. 3A shows a time chart when the angle of the rotary mirror 115 is changed to −45 degrees at the time point 3a, and exposure for EVF display and signal readout by the image sensor 101 are performed at predetermined time intervals. It is a figure.

  Thereafter, when the user presses the release button 116 halfway to give an instruction to prepare for shooting, the overall control unit 105 keeps the angle of the rotating mirror 115 at −45 degrees while the imaging element 101 side. By opening the shutter 113, the image sensor 101 receives the transmitted light 2c. Then, the overall control unit 105 converts the image signal read from the image sensor 101 into display image data, displays it on an electronic viewfinder (EVF) (not shown), and the signal of the transmitted light 2c received by the image sensor 101. Is read out and output to the photometric sensor 106 to perform photometry. Further, the reflected light 2d is received by the AF sensor 108 to detect the focus state, and a focus adjustment process (AF process) by a known phase difference AF is performed. FIG. 3B shows that the angle of the rotating mirror 115 is changed to −45 degrees at the time point 3a, and EVF display by the image sensor 101, exposure for light measurement and signal readout, and AF processing by the AF sensor 108 are performed for a predetermined time. It is the figure which showed the time chart in the case of performing at an interval.

  When the release mode 116 is set to the above-described normal mode by the release mode setting unit 118 and the user instructs the shooting by pressing the release button 116, the overall control unit 105 is shown in FIG. As described above, the angle of the rotating mirror 115 is changed to -90 degrees. As described above, when the rotating mirror 115 is retracted from the optical axis, the incident light 2b from the lens is all incident on the image sensor 101 by opening the shutter 113 on the image sensor 101 side. At the time of shooting (normal shooting), the image sensor 101 can receive all of the incident light 2b from the lens without loss, and shooting can be performed.

  In FIG. 5, after the angle of the rotating mirror 115 is changed to −45 degrees at the time point 5 a, EVF display by the image sensor 101, exposure and signal reading for photometry, and AF processing by the AF sensor 108 are performed. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a time chart when the angle of the rotating mirror 115 is changed to −90 degrees between the time point 5b and the time point 5c, and exposure for image capturing and signal readout are performed by the image sensor 101.

  On the other hand, when the release button 116 is fully pressed by the user in a state where the shooting mode is set to the above-described continuous shooting mode by the release mode setting unit 118, the overall control unit 105, as shown in FIG. The angle of the rotating mirror 115 is changed to +45 degrees. Thereby, the incident light 2 b from the lens is separated into light 2 c that passes through the rotating mirror 115 and light 4 a that is reflected by the rotating mirror 115. The transmitted light 2c enters the image sensor 101 by opening the shutter 113 on the image sensor 101 side, and the reflected light 4a enters the image sensor 103 by opening the shutter 113 on the image sensor 103 side. Thereby, at the time of continuous shooting, light reception and readout can be performed by the two image sensors of the image sensor 101 and the image sensor 103, so that the speed of continuous shooting can be increased.

  In the normal continuous shooting mode, the angle of the rotary mirror 115 is switched to -45 degrees every time one frame shooting is performed to return to the initial state, and AF processing and display on the EVF are performed. Repeat while button 116 is pressed. On the other hand, in the case of the high-speed continuous shooting mode, in order to give priority to the continuous shooting speed, the continuous shooting is continued while the angle of the rotary mirror 115 is kept at −45 while the release button 116 is pressed. .

  FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a time chart of processing in the normal continuous shooting mode. In other words, at the time point 7a, the angle of the rotating mirror 115 is changed to -45 degrees, and exposure and signal readout by the image sensor 101 for EVF display and photometry are performed, and AF processing by the AF sensor 108 is performed. From the time point 7c to the time point 7c, the angle of the rotating mirror 115 is changed to +45 degrees, and exposure for image capturing and signal readout by the image sensor 101 and the image sensor 103 are performed. The process from the time point 7a to the time point 7c is continued while the release button 116 is pressed.

  FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a time chart of processing in the high-speed continuous shooting mode. That is, after the angle of the rotating mirror 115 is changed to −45 degrees at the time point 7 a, EVF display by the image sensor 101, exposure for photometry, signal readout, and AF processing by the AF sensor 108 are performed, then the time point 7 b In FIG. 5, while the angle of the rotating mirror 115 is changed to +45 degrees and the release button 116 is pressed, exposure for image capturing and signal readout by the image sensor 101 and the image sensor 103 are repeatedly performed.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of imaging processing in the present embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 8 is executed by the overall control unit 105 as a program that starts when the power of the camera 100 is turned on. At the start of the process of FIG. 8, the overall control unit 105 controls the rotary mirror control unit 114 to set the angle of the rotary mirror 115 to −45 degrees. That is, the initial state shown in FIG.

  In step S10, the overall control unit 105 controls the shutter control unit 112 to open the shutter 113 on the image sensor 101 side. Thereby, the image sensor 101 receives the transmitted light 2c of the rotating mirror 115. The overall control unit 105 reads an image signal from the image sensor 101, converts it into display image data, and displays it on an electronic viewfinder (EVF) (not shown). Then, it progresses to step S20.

  In step S20, the overall control unit 105 determines whether or not the shooting mode is the continuous shooting mode described above. When an affirmative determination is made in step S20, the process proceeds to step S30, and the overall control unit 105 executes processing in the continuous shooting mode described later with reference to FIG. On the other hand, when a negative determination is made in step S20, that is, when it is determined that the normal mode is set, the process proceeds to step S40.

  In step S40, the overall control unit 105 determines whether or not the release button 116 has been half-pressed. If a negative determination is made in step S40, the process returns to step S10. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S40, the process proceeds to step S50. In step S50, the overall control unit 105 reads the signal of the transmitted light 2c received by the image sensor 101 and outputs it to the photometric sensor 106, and the photometric sensor 106 performs photometry. Further, the overall control unit 105 reads an image signal from the image sensor 101, converts it into display image data, and displays it on an electronic viewfinder (EVF) (not shown). Thereby, the image of the electronic viewfinder is updated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S60, the overall control unit 105 controls the AF sensor control unit 109 to receive the reflected light 2d by the AF sensor 108, and performs automatic focus adjustment control (AF control) by the known phase difference AF. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S70, and the overall control unit 105 determines whether or not the release button 116 has been fully pressed. If a negative determination is made in step S70, the process returns to step S10. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S70, the process proceeds to step S80.

  In step S80, the overall control unit 105 performs automatic exposure adjustment control (AE control) based on the photometric result in step S50. Specifically, the overall control unit 105 calculates an aperture and a shutter speed based on the photometric result obtained by the photometric sensor 106, and controls the aperture control unit 110 and the shutter control unit 112 based on the calculation result. As a result, it is possible to shoot with appropriate exposure. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S90.

  In step S90, the overall control unit 105 controls the rotating mirror control unit 114 to change the angle of the rotating mirror 115 to -90 degrees. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, all of the incident light 2 b from the lens enters the image sensor 101. Note that the process in step S80 and the process in step S90 may be performed simultaneously.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S <b> 100, and the overall control unit 105 controls the imaging control unit 102 to read out an image signal from the imaging element 101, thereby performing imaging using the imaging element 101. Thereby, at the time of imaging | photography in normal mode, all the incident light 2b from a lens can be light-received with the image pick-up element 101, and it can image | photograph. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S110, where the overall control unit 105 controls the rotating mirror control unit 114 to change the angle of the rotating mirror 115 to −45 degrees and returns to the initial state, and then ends the process.

  Next, the process in the continuous shooting mode executed in step S30 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S120, the overall control unit 105 determines whether or not the continuous shooting mode is the above-described high-speed continuous shooting mode. If a positive determination is made in step S120, the process proceeds to step S130.

  In step S130, the overall control unit 105 determines whether or not the release button 116 has been half-pressed. If a negative determination is made in step S130, the process returns to the process shown in FIG. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S130, the process proceeds to step S140.

  In step S140, the overall control unit 105 reads the signal of the transmitted light 2c received by the image sensor 101 and outputs the signal to the photometric sensor 106, and the photometric sensor 106 performs photometry. Further, the overall control unit 105 reads an image signal from the image sensor 101, converts it into display image data, and displays it on an electronic viewfinder (EVF) (not shown).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S150, where the overall control unit 105 controls the AF sensor control unit 109 to receive the reflected light 2d by the AF sensor 108, and performs automatic focus adjustment control (AF control) using a known phase difference AF. Then, the process proceeds to step S160. In step S160, automatic exposure adjustment control (AE control) is performed based on the photometric result in step S140, as in step S80 described above. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S170.

  In step S170, the overall control unit 105 determines whether or not the release button 116 has been fully pressed. If a negative determination is made in step S170, the process returns to step S130. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S170, the process proceeds to step S180.

  In step S180, the overall control unit 105 controls the rotating mirror control unit 114 to change the angle of the rotating mirror 115 to +45 degrees. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the incident light 2b from the lens is separated into transmitted light 2c and reflected light 4a by the rotating mirror 115, the transmitted light 2c is transmitted to the image sensor 101, and the reflected light 4a is captured to the image sensor. Then, the light enters the beam 103. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S190.

  In step S <b> 190, the overall control unit 105 performs imaging using the image sensor 101 by controlling the imaging control unit 102 to read out an image signal from the image sensor 101. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S <b> 200, and the overall control unit 105 controls the imaging control unit 104 to read out an image signal from the imaging element 103, thereby performing imaging using the imaging element 103. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S210.

  In step S210, the overall control unit 105 determines whether or not the release button 116 has been fully pressed. If a negative determination is made in step S210, the process returns to step S190. On the other hand, when a positive determination is made in step S210, the process returns to the process shown in FIG. Thus, in the high-speed continuous shooting mode, as long as the release button 116 is fully pressed by the user, shooting is continuously performed using the two image sensors of the image sensor 101 and the image sensor 103. Can be speeded up.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S120, that is, if it is determined that the continuous shooting mode is a normal continuous shooting mode other than the high-speed continuous shooting mode, the process proceeds to step S220. In step S220, overall control unit 105 determines whether or not release button 116 is half-pressed. If a negative determination is made in step S220, the process returns to the process shown in FIG. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S220, the process proceeds to step S230.

  In step S230, the overall control unit 105 reads the signal of the transmitted light 2c received by the image sensor 101 and outputs the signal to the photometric sensor 106, and the photometric sensor 106 performs photometry. Further, the overall control unit 105 reads an image signal from the image sensor 101, converts it into display image data, and displays it on an electronic viewfinder (EVF) (not shown).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S240, where the overall control unit 105 controls the AF sensor control unit 109 to receive the reflected light 2d by the AF sensor 108, and performs automatic focus adjustment control (AF control) using a known phase difference AF. Then, the process proceeds to step S250. In step S250, automatic exposure adjustment control (AE control) is performed based on the photometric result in step S230, as in step S80 described above. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S260.

  In step S260, overall control unit 105 determines whether or not release button 116 has been fully pressed. If a negative determination is made in step S260, the process returns to step S220. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S260, the process proceeds to step S270.

  In step S270, the overall control unit 105 controls the rotating mirror control unit 114 to change the angle of the rotating mirror 115 to +45 degrees. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the incident light 2b from the lens is separated into transmitted light 2c and reflected light 4a by the rotating mirror 115, the transmitted light 2c is transmitted to the image sensor 101, and the reflected light 4a is captured to the image sensor. Then, the light enters the beam 103. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S280.

  In step S <b> 280, the overall control unit 105 controls the imaging control unit 102 to read out an image signal from the imaging element 101, thereby performing imaging using the imaging element 101. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S290, where the overall control unit 105 controls the imaging control unit 104 to read out an image signal from the imaging element 103, thereby performing imaging using the imaging element 103. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S300.

  In step S300, the overall control unit 105 controls the rotating mirror control unit 114 to change the angle of the rotating mirror 115 to −45 degrees and return to the initial state. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S310, and the overall control unit 105 determines whether or not the release button 116 has been fully pressed. If a positive determination is made in step S310, the process returns to the process shown in FIG. On the other hand, when a negative determination is made in step S310, the process returns to step S230, and the above-described processing of steps S230 to S300 is repeated. At this time, in step S260, the overall control unit 105 determines whether or not full release of the release button 116 is released. If not released, the process proceeds to step S270. The process returns to the process shown in FIG.

  As a result, in the normal continuous shooting mode, while the release button 116 is fully pressed by the user, shooting is performed using the two image pickup devices of the image pickup device 101 and the image pickup device 103, thereby reducing the continuous shooting speed. In addition to speeding up, the EVF display is updated by returning the angle of the rotating mirror 115 to the initial state each time shooting is performed by the image sensor 101 and the image sensor 103, and performing EVF display, AF control, and AE control. At the same time, AF accuracy and AE accuracy can be improved.

According to the present embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The camera 100 is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, separates incident light from the lens into transmitted light and reflected light, and an overall control unit that controls the rotation angle of the rotating mirror 115 105 and when the rotation angle of the rotating mirror 115 is set to −90 degrees when the rotating mirror 115 is retracted from the optical axis, the incident light from the lens is received, and the rotating angle of the rotating mirror 115 is 115 is arranged on the optical axis. When the angle is set to −45 degrees or +45 degrees, the rotation is performed when the imaging element 101 that receives the light transmitted from the lens and the rotation angle of the rotating mirror 115 is set to +45 degrees. The image sensor 103 that receives the reflected light of the mirror 115 and the AF sensor that receives the reflected light of the rotating mirror 115 when the rotation angle of the rotating mirror 115 is set to −45 degrees. And to include a service 108. Thereby, the sensor for receiving the incident light from the lens can be switched only by changing the angle of the rotating mirror 115.

(2) The overall control unit 105 switches the angle of the rotating mirror 115 according to the shooting mode. As a result, it is possible to perform shooting using an optimum sensor corresponding to the shooting mode.

(3) When the shooting mode is a normal shooting mode for shooting a single still image, the general control unit 105 sets the angle of the rotating mirror 115 to −90 degrees when the user gives an instruction to take a photo. It was set to take a still image using the image sensor 101. As a result, it is possible to take an image by receiving all of the incident light 2b from the lens by the image sensor 101 without loss.

(4) When the shooting mode is a continuous shooting mode in which a plurality of still images are shot continuously, the overall control unit 105 sets the angle of the rotating mirror 115 to +45 degrees when shooting is instructed by the user. Thus, a still image is captured using the image sensor 101 and the image sensor 103. As a result, light reception and readout can be performed by the two image sensors of the image sensor 101 and the image sensor 103, so that continuous shooting can be performed at high speed.

(5) The overall control unit 105 sets the angle of the rotating mirror 115 to −45 degrees when the release button 116 is half-pressed and an instruction to prepare for shooting is given by the user, and outputs to the output from the image sensor 101. Based on this, photometry and display of an image on the electronic viewfinder are performed, and focus adjustment is performed based on the output from the AF sensor 108. Accordingly, EVF display can be performed at the timing when the release button 116 is half-pressed, and shooting conditions can be determined.

-Modification-
The camera according to the above-described embodiment can be modified as follows.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, when the release button 116 is half-pressed by the user, the overall control unit 105 sets the angle of the rotating mirror 115 to −45 degrees, and transmits the transmitted light 2c by the image sensor 101. Received light. Then, the overall control unit 105 converts the image signal read from the image sensor 101 into display image data, displays it on an electronic viewfinder (EVF) (not shown), and the signal of the transmitted light 2c received by the image sensor 101. Is read out and output to the photometric sensor 106 to perform photometry. However, when the release button 116 is half-pressed, the angle of the rotating mirror 115 may be set to −45 degrees, and at least one of EVF display and photometry may be performed.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, when the high-speed continuous shooting mode is set, the angle of the rotating mirror is set to +45 degrees, and high-speed continuous shooting using the image sensor 101 and the image sensor 103 is performed. The example to do was demonstrated. However, the present invention can also be applied to HDR imaging for acquiring an image with an expanded dynamic range by combining two images with different exposure times. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, at the time point 10a, the angle of the rotating mirror 115 is changed to -45 degrees, and exposure and signal readout by the image sensor 101 for EVF display and photometry, and AF processing by the AF sensor 108 are performed. Done. After that, at the time point 10b, the angle of the rotating mirror 115 is changed to +45 degrees, and until the time point 10c, exposure for image capturing and signal readout by the image sensor 101 and the image sensor 103 are performed. At this time, shooting is performed by changing the exposure time of shooting by the image sensor 101 and the exposure time of shooting by the image sensor 103. The overall control unit 105 generates an image with an expanded dynamic range by combining the image acquired by the image sensor 101 and the image acquired by the image sensor 103. The processing from the time point 10a to the time point 10c is performed every time the user presses the release button 116 to instruct HDR shooting.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the incidence of light on the three sensors of the image sensor 101, the image sensor 103, and the AF sensor 108 is controlled by changing the rotation angle of the rotary mirror 115 has been described. . However, the present invention can also be applied when controlling the incidence of light on four or more sensors.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a camera has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to other devices having a photographing function, such as a video camera or a camera-equipped mobile terminal.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the configurations in the above-described embodiments as long as the characteristic functions of the present invention are not impaired. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which combined the above-mentioned embodiment and a some modification.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Camera, 101, 103 Image pick-up element, 102, 104 Imaging control part, 105 Whole control part, 106 Photometry sensor, 107 Photometry sensor control part, 108 AF sensor, 109 AF sensor control part, 110 Aperture control part, 111 Aperture, 112 Shutter control unit, 113 shutter, 114 rotating mirror control unit, 115 rotating mirror, 116 release button, 117 continuous shooting high-speed mode setting unit, 118 release mode setting unit

Claims (7)

A half mirror that is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis and separates incident light from the lens into transmitted light and reflected light;
Control means for controlling the rotation angle of the half mirror;
When the rotation angle of the half mirror is set to the first angle by which the half mirror is retracted from the optical axis by the control means, incident light from the lens is received and the rotation angle of the half mirror is When the second or third angle at which the half mirror is disposed on the optical axis is set, a first sensor that receives light transmitted through the half mirror;
A second sensor that receives reflected light of the half mirror when the rotation angle of the half mirror is set to the second angle;
An imaging apparatus comprising: a third sensor that receives reflected light of the half mirror when the rotation angle of the half mirror is set to the third angle. The imaging device according to claim 1,
The image pickup apparatus, wherein the control unit switches the first angle, the second angle, and the third angle according to a shooting mode. The imaging device according to claim 2,
The first sensor is an image sensor for capturing a subject image,
When the shooting mode is a single shooting mode for shooting a single still image, the control unit sets the angle of the half mirror to the first angle when shooting is instructed by a user. An image pickup apparatus that picks up the still image using the first sensor. The imaging device according to claim 2,
The first sensor and the second sensor are image sensors for capturing a subject image,
When the shooting mode is a continuous shooting mode in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, the angle of the half mirror is set to the second angle when shooting is instructed by a user. Then, the still image is photographed using the first sensor and the second sensor. The imaging device according to claim 2,
The first sensor and the second sensor are image sensors for capturing a subject image,
In the case where the shooting mode is a combining mode in which two still images are combined to generate an image, the control means sets the angle of the second mirror when the user gives an instruction for shooting. An imaging apparatus, wherein the image is set to an angle, the still image is captured using the first sensor and the second sensor, and the captured still images are combined. In the imaging device according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
The third sensor is an AF sensor for detecting a focus state,
The control means sets the angle of the half mirror to the third angle and performs focus adjustment based on an output from the third sensor when an instruction to prepare for photographing is given by the user. An imaging device that is characterized. The imaging device according to claim 6,
When the rotation angle of the half mirror is switched to the third angle, the control means performs at least one of photometry and image display on the electronic viewfinder based on the output from the first sensor. An imaging device characterized in that it performs.

Images