JP2015073240A - Imaging apparatus and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus switching between retaining a lens position at power off and driving the lens to a predetermined lens position at activation without retaining the lens position, according to an operation to power on/off.SOLUTION: A video camera 100 includes a system control 50 for switching power on/off according to the operation of a power switch 72 or the open/close of a display unit 28. Depending on the system control unit 50 switching power on/off by either the operation of the power switch or the open/close of the display unit, a switchover is made at the activation of power whether to drive the lens to the lens position at the power off or to drive to the predetermined lens position.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a control method thereof.

  When the image pickup device is turned off and then turned on, it is necessary to return the lens to the memorized position after performing the lens reset operation in order to retain the original zoom lens and focus lens positions when the power is turned off. And the startup time becomes longer. In order to shorten the startup time, an imaging apparatus has been proposed in which the lens is operated from the wide end during startup.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic camera that turns off a power supply by opening a battery cover. Patent Document 2 discloses an imaging apparatus that changes a lens driving method at the time of activation in accordance with a determination result as to whether or not hand-held shooting is performed.

JP 2004-72222 A JP 2009-267482 A

  A device that turns on / off the power by opening and closing the liquid crystal panel, which is the display unit 28, can be considered so that the power can be turned on / off with few steps. In addition, in consideration of a usage situation where the user wants to turn off the power while the liquid crystal panel is opened, an apparatus having a function of turning on / off the power by operating the power button in addition to opening / closing of the display unit 28 can be considered.

  Here, when the user intends to continue shooting, such as when the user opens the display unit 28 and is in a posture to display the captured image and then turns off the power by operating the power button, the lens position when the power is turned off. It is better to be able to restore at startup by holding

  However, conventionally, depending on the operation to turn on / off the power, the lens position when the power is turned off is held, or the lens is not held and the lens is driven to a predetermined lens position at the time of startup. An imaging apparatus that switches whether to shorten the startup time has not been proposed. Therefore, conventionally, the user has not been able to cause the imaging apparatus to perform lens control at startup desired by the user by selecting an operation to turn off / on the power.

  The present invention switches between holding the lens position when the power is turned off or driving the lens to a predetermined lens position when starting without holding the lens position in accordance with an operation for turning the power on / off. An object is to provide an imaging device.

  An imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lens, a power switch, a display unit configured to be openable and closable, and a control for turning on / off the power according to the operation of the power switch or the opening and closing of the display unit And the control unit is configured to turn off the lens when the power is turned on depending on whether the power switch is operated or the display unit is opened / closed. The lens position is switched between driving to a predetermined lens position or driving to a predetermined lens position.

  According to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, the lens position when the power is turned off is held according to the operation for turning on / off the power, or the lens is held at a predetermined lens position at the start without holding the lens position. The driving can be switched. Therefore, the user can cause the imaging apparatus to perform lens control at startup desired by the user by selecting an operation to turn off / on the power.

It is a figure which shows an example of the external appearance of an imaging device. It is an example of a functional block diagram of a video camera. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the operation | movement process at the time of turning off a power supply. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the operation | movement process at the time of turning on a power supply. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the operation | movement process at the time of turning off a power supply. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the operation | movement process at the time of turning on a power supply.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. The imaging apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the video camera 100 as viewed from the front side. FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of the video camera 100 as seen from the back side.

  A power switch 72 switches between power-on and power-off when pressed. The display unit 28 is a display unit that displays images and various types of information. The display unit 28 is connected to the video camera body via the movable unit 63. The display unit 28 is configured to be openable and closable. The display unit 28 shifts to a closed storage state or an open use state by an opening / closing operation.

  Inside the vicinity of the movable axis, an opening / closing detection means 64 for detecting opening / closing of the display unit 28 is provided (FIG. 2). The video camera 100 turns on and off the power according to the detection result by the open / close detection means 64. The power off state is a state in which only some functions such as the power switch 72 and the open / close detection means 64 are operating. When the open / close detection unit 64 detects that the display unit 28 has been switched from the closed state to the open state in the power off state, the power control unit 80 turns on the power. Similarly, when the power switch 72 is pressed in the power off state, the power control unit 80 detects that the power switch 72 has been pressed and turns on the power.

  When the display unit 28 is closed in the power-on state, the open / close detection unit 64 detects that the display unit 28 has been switched from the open state to the closed state, and the power control unit 80 turns off the power. Similarly, when the power switch 72 is pressed in the power-on state, the power control unit 80 detects that the power switch 72 is pressed and turns off the power.

  The trigger button 61 is an operation unit for instructing photographing. The zoom lever 62 drives the zoom lens in the lens unit and changes the focal length.

FIG. 2 is an example of a functional block diagram of the video camera shown in FIG.
The lens unit 103 includes a zoom lens and a focus lens. Reference numeral 101 denotes an aperture function. The imaging unit 22 includes a CCD, a CMOS element, or the like that converts an optical image into an electrical signal. The A / D converter 23 converts the analog signal output from the imaging unit 22 into a digital signal.

  The image processing unit 24 performs resize processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 23 or the data from the memory control unit 15. In addition, the image processing unit 24 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data.

  The system control unit 50 controls the entire video camera 100. The system control unit 50 implements each process of the present embodiment by executing a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 described later. Reference numeral 52 denotes a system memory. For example, a RAM is used as the system memory 52. In the system memory 52, constants and variables for operating the system control unit 50, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 56, and the like are expanded. The system timer 53 is a time measuring unit that measures the time used for various controls and the time of a built-in clock.

  For example, the system control unit 50 performs exposure control and focus adjustment control based on the calculation result obtained by the image processing unit 24. As a result, TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing and AE (automatic exposure) processing are performed. The image processing unit 24 further performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained calculation result.

  In addition, the system control unit 50 functions as a control unit that turns on / off the power in response to an operation of the power switch 72 or opening / closing of the display unit 28. The system control unit 50 sets the lens to the lens position when the power is turned off when the power is turned on depending on whether the power switch is operated or the display unit is opened / closed. Switching between driving and driving to a predetermined lens position is performed.

  The system control unit also performs display control by controlling the memory 32, the D / A converter 13, the display unit 28, and the like. Output data from the A / D converter 23 is directly written into the memory 32 via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15 or via the memory control unit 15. The memory 32 stores image data obtained by the imaging unit 22 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 23 and image data to be displayed on the display unit 28. The memory 32 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a moving image and sound for a predetermined time. The memory 32 also serves as an image display memory (video memory).

  The D / A converter 13 converts the image display data stored in the memory 32 into an analog signal and supplies the analog signal to the display unit 28. Thereby, the display image data written in the memory 32 is displayed on the display unit 28 via the D / A converter 13.

  The display unit 28 performs display according to the analog signal from the D / A converter 13 on a display such as an LCD. The digital signal once A / D converted by the A / D converter 23 and stored in the memory 32 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 13 and sequentially transferred to the display unit 28 for display. That is, the display unit 28 functions as an electronic viewfinder (through image display).

  The nonvolatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory. As the nonvolatile memory 56, for example, an EEPROM or the like is used. The nonvolatile memory 56 stores constants, programs, and the like for operating the system control unit 50. This program is a program for executing various flowcharts described later in the present embodiment.

  The power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like. The power control unit 80 detects whether or not a battery is attached, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. In addition, the power supply control unit 80 controls the DC-DC converter based on the presence / absence of battery installation, the type of battery, the detection result of the remaining battery level, and the instruction of the system control unit 50, and the necessary voltage is required. The period is supplied to each processing unit including the recording medium 200.

  The power supply unit 30 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like. Reference numeral 18 denotes an interface with a recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card. The recording medium 200 is composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like.

(Example 1)
Hereinafter, the operation of the image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment switches lens driving at the next start-up according to an operation when the power is turned off.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation process performed by the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment when the power is turned off.
The imaging device is in a power-on state (step S31). In this example, it is assumed that the user is in use with the display unit 28 opened. In this state, the user performs an operation to turn off the power. The user instructs to turn off the power by opening or closing the display unit 28 or pressing the power switch 72. In this example, turning off the power supply by opening and closing the display unit 28 indicates that the power supply is turned off by changing the display unit 28 from the open state to the closed state. Of course, the power may be turned off by changing the display unit 28 from the closed state to the open state. It is detected by the opening / closing detection means 64 that the user has opened / closed the display unit 28 and is output to the system control unit 50. The system controller 50 is notified that the user has pressed the power switch 72.

  The system control unit 50 determines whether the power-off is instructed by opening / closing the display unit 28 or the power-off is instructed by pressing the power switch 72 (step S32). When an instruction to turn off the power by opening / closing the display unit 28 is given, the system control unit 50 clears the zoom position data and stores it in the nonvolatile memory 56 (step S33). The zoom position data is data indicating the zoom position. The zoom position is the lens position of the zoom lens.

  When the power switch 72 is pressed and power off is instructed, the system control unit 50 stores the current zoom position in the nonvolatile memory 56 (step S34). The system control unit performs other termination processing, and the imaging apparatus is turned off (step S35).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation processing performed when the power is turned on, which is executed by the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment.
When the imaging apparatus is in a power-off state (step S41), the user performs an operation to turn on the power. The user instructs to turn on the power by opening / closing the display unit 28 or pressing the power switch 72. In this example, turning on the power supply by opening and closing the display unit 28 indicates that the power supply is turned on by changing the display unit 28 from the closed state to the open state. Of course, the power may be turned on by changing the display unit 28 from the closed state to the open state. It is detected by the opening / closing detection means 64 that the user has opened / closed the display unit 28 and is output to the system control unit 50. The system controller 50 is notified that the user has pressed the power switch 72. Then, the system control unit 50 turns on the power.

  Next, the system control unit 50 reads the data stored in the nonvolatile memory 56, that is, the storage means. Then, the system control unit 50 restores the position of the zoom lens based on the read data (step S42).

  The system control unit 50 restores the read data depending on whether it is the value cleared in step S33 in FIG. 3 or the zoom position data at the previous end stored in step S34. Change the position of the zoom lens. When the read data is the value cleared in step S33 of FIG. 3, the system control unit 50 drives and resets the zoom lens to the wide end in the initial state. If the read data is the zoom position data at the end of the previous time stored in step S34, the system control unit 50 drives the zoom lens to the initial state to perform a reset, and then the read data is read. The zoom lens is driven to the zoom position indicated by the zoom position data.

  When the user carries off the power by closing the liquid crystal screen (display unit), it is assumed that the subject and the shooting scene are changed at the start of the next shooting. In this case, the lens position is cleared and the zoom lens is driven to the initial state. On the other hand, if the user performs an operation to turn off the power with the power button without closing the LCD screen, the user is willing to continue shooting because the LCD screen is not closed. It is envisaged to wait together. In this case, the lens position when the power is turned off is saved, and the zoom lens position is restored to the saved lens position at the time of activation.

(Example 2)
Hereinafter, the operation of the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The imaging apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment switches lens driving at startup according to an operation when turning on the power.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation process performed by the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment when the power is turned off.
The imaging device is in a power-on state (step S51). The user instructs to turn off the power by opening or closing the display unit 28 or pressing the power switch 72. When the user opens / closes the display unit 28, the opening / closing detection unit 64 detects that the display unit 28 has been opened / closed and outputs it to the system control unit 50. When the user presses the power switch 72, the system controller 50 is notified that the power switch 72 has been pressed.

  When instructed to turn off the power, the system control unit 50 stores the current zoom position in the nonvolatile memory 56 (step S52), and turns off the power. The system control unit 50 performs other termination processing, and the imaging apparatus is turned off (step S53).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation processing performed when the power is turned on, which is executed by the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment.
When the imaging apparatus is in a power-off state (step S61), the user performs an operation to turn on the power. The user instructs to turn on the power by opening / closing the display unit 28 or pressing the power switch 72. In this example, turning on the power supply by opening and closing the display unit 28 indicates that the power supply is turned on by changing the display unit 28 from the closed state to the open state. Of course, the power may be turned on by changing the display unit 28 from the closed state to the open state.

  The system control unit 50 determines whether the power-on is instructed by opening / closing the display unit 28 or the power-on is instructed by pressing the power switch 72 (step S62). When power-on is instructed by opening and closing the display unit 28, the system control unit 50 drives the zoom lens to the wide end in the initial state and resets it (step S63).

  When the power-on is instructed by pressing the power switch 72, the system control unit 50 reads the data stored in the nonvolatile memory 56, and the position of the zoom lens based on the read data. Is restored (step S64). Specifically, the system control unit 50 resets the zoom lens by driving it to the initial state, and then moves the zoom lens to the zoom position indicated by the zoom position data at the previous end stored in step S52 of FIG. To drive. Thereafter, the imaging device is turned on.

(Example 3)
The operation (FIGS. 3 and 4) for switching the lens driving of the zoom lens in accordance with the operation when turning off the power in the first embodiment may be applied to the lens driving switching of the focus lens. That is, in the third embodiment, when the power-off is instructed by opening / closing the display unit 28 in the power-on state, the system control unit 50 clears the focus position data (focus position data) and stores the nonvolatile memory. 56. When power-off is instructed by pressing the power switch 72, the system control unit 50 stores the current focus position in the nonvolatile memory 56.

  When the user performs an operation to turn on the power when the imaging apparatus is in the power-off state, the system control unit 50 performs the following operation. The system control unit 50 reads the data stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 and restores the position of the focus lens based on the read data.

  When the read data is a value cleared when the power is turned off (S33 in FIG. 3), the system control unit 50 drives and resets the focus lens to the initial position. If the read data is focus position data stored when the power is turned off, the system control unit 50 resets the focus lens by driving it to the initial position. Thereafter, the system control unit 50 drives the focus lens to the focus position indicated by the read focus position data.

Example 4
In the fourth embodiment, the operation (FIGS. 5 and 6) for switching the lens driving according to the operation when turning on the power in the second embodiment is applied to the lens driving switching of the focus lens.
When the imaging apparatus is in a power-off state, the user performs an operation to turn on the power. When power-on is instructed by opening and closing the display unit 28, the system control unit 50 resets the zoom lens by driving it to the initial position. When the power-on is instructed by pressing the power switch 72, the system control unit 50 reads the data stored in the nonvolatile memory 56, and based on the read data, the position of the focus lens To restore.

(Example 5)
The image pickup apparatus according to the fifth embodiment switches the lens driving of the zoom lens and the focus lens in the same manner as described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 according to the operation when the power is turned off.

(Example 6)
The image pickup apparatus according to the sixth embodiment switches the lens driving of the zoom lens and the focus lens in the same manner as described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 according to the operation when turning on the power.

(Example 7)
When the focus is set to manual setting (manual focus), there is a lens that moves out of focus when only the zoom is moved. When the focus adjustment by driving the focus lens is in the manual setting state, the image pickup apparatus of Embodiment 7 forcibly saves the position of the zoom lens and the position of the focus lens instead of the operation of FIG. Sometimes it works to undo.

(Example 8)
Any one of the first to seventh embodiments may be combined with driving in a white balance or exposure setting state. That is, the image pickup apparatus according to the eighth embodiment switches the lens driving at the next activation according to the operation when the power is turned off / off, and similarly switches the white balance and exposure setting states.

(Other examples)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

28 Display unit 50 System control unit 64 Open / close detection means

Claims (9)

A lens,
A power switch;
A display unit configured to be openable and closable;
A control unit for turning on / off the power in response to an operation of the power switch or opening / closing of the display unit,
The control unit has a lens position when the power is turned off when the power is turned on depending on whether the power switch is operated or the display unit is opened / closed. Switching between driving to become a predetermined lens position or driving to a predetermined lens position. The control unit is set to the lens position when the power is turned off when the power is turned on depending on whether the power switch is operated or the display unit is opened or closed. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving is switched between driving to a predetermined lens position. The controller is
When the power is turned off according to the operation of the power switch, the lens position when the power is turned off is stored in the storage means,
When the power is turned off according to the opening / closing of the display unit, the lens position stored in the storage means is cleared,
When the lens position is stored in the storage means at the time of power activation, the lens is driven to be the lens position,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the lens position in the storage unit is cleared at the time of power activation, the lens is driven to a predetermined lens position. The controller is
When the power is turned off according to the operation of the power switch, the lens position when the power is turned off is stored in the storage means,
When the power is turned off in response to opening / closing of the display unit, a predetermined lens position is stored in the storage unit,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lens is driven to a lens position stored in the storage unit when the power is turned on. The control unit becomes the lens position when the power is turned off when the power is turned on, depending on whether the power switch is turned on or the display unit is opened or closed. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving is switched between driving to a predetermined lens position. The controller is
When turning off the power, the current lens position of the lens is stored in the storage means,
When the power is turned on according to the operation of the power switch, the lens is driven so as to be in the lens position stored in the storage means,
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the power is turned on in response to opening / closing of the display unit, the lens is driven to reach a predetermined lens position. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lens is a zoom lens or a focus lens. The lens is a zoom lens and a focus lens,
The controller is
When the power is turned off when the focus adjustment by driving the focus lens is in a manual setting state, regardless of whether the power is turned off or the display unit is opened or closed, the power is turned off. The lens position of the zoom lens and the lens position of the focus lens are stored in the storage means, and when the power is turned on, the zoom lens is set to the lens position of the zoom lens stored in the storage means. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the focus lens is driven so as to be at a lens position of the focus lens stored in the storage unit. A control method for an imaging apparatus, comprising: a lens; a power switch; a display unit configured to be openable and closable; and a control unit that turns on / off power in response to an operation of the power switch or opening / closing of the display unit. And
The lens position when the power is turned off when the power is turned on depending on whether the control unit operates the power switch or opens / closes the display unit. A control method comprising a step of switching between driving to become a predetermined lens position or driving to a predetermined lens position.

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