JP2015154225A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of quickly starting photographing in a self-timer mode by automatically establishing communication by NFC contact and transferring a current state to a remote view finder state.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus 100 having a communication function based on NFC includes: NFC request detection means for detecting a request to an NFC active tag device; mode setting means for switching modes of the imaging apparatus; information communication means for performing information communication with a device sending a request to an NFC device; NFC request timing detection means for detecting timing that the request is sent to the NFC active tag device; and remote view means for sending a moving image obtained from an imaging device to the device sending the request to the NFC device.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a digital still camera equipped with an NFC active tag, and relates to processing when the imaging apparatus is in a self-timer mode at the timing when a request for an NFC active tag is made.

  When the imaging device is fixed on a tripod, etc., and the shutter operation is performed with a self-timer or remote control, the EVF image of the imaging device is sent to a smartphone, etc. There is an imaging device having a function to ask. Hereinafter, the function of displaying the EVF image of the imaging apparatus on the display panel of the smartphone is referred to as a remote viewfinder function.

  However, in order to use the remote viewfinder function, it is necessary to establish a wireless communication connection, and it is necessary to perform complicated settings such as an ID and a password. As a result, you may miss a photo opportunity.

  On the other hand, with respect to such a problem, wireless communication is automatically established between devices that have been connected in the past, or the imaging device described in Patent Document 1 uses a touch operation on an NFC active tag. By switching the NFC communication method according to the manner, communication between the imaging device and the smartphone can be easily performed.

JP 2012-165379 A

  In Patent Document 1, an NFC communication method is switched according to a touch operation on an NFC active tag. However, the wireless connection between the imaging device and the smartphone is established, but the remote viewfinder function is not performed. As a result, the user needs to make settings up to the remote viewfinder function, and in the meantime, the user may miss a photo opportunity.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in the case of the self-timer mode, it establishes communication automatically at the time of NFC contact, and shifts to the remote viewfinder state without performing troublesome operations. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can immediately start photographing because a remote viewfinder function can be established.

An imaging apparatus of the present invention is an imaging apparatus having a communication function by NFC (Near Field Communication).
NFC request detection means for detecting a request to the NFC active tag;
Mode setting means for switching the mode of the imaging device;
Communication means for communicating between the imaging device and a device that has made a request to the NFC active tag;
NFC request timing detection means for detecting timing at which a request to the NFC active tag is made by the NFC request detection means;
Remote view means for sending a moving image acquired from the imaging device of the imaging device in the communication means to the device that has made a request to the NFC active tag;
When the request to the NFC active tag is made and the mode of the imaging apparatus is the self-timer mode, the remote view means is executed.

  According to the present invention, in the self-timer mode, communication is automatically established at the time of NFC contact, and the remote viewfinder state is established without performing troublesome operations by shifting to the remote viewfinder state. It is possible to start shooting.

The block diagram which concerns on the Example of this invention The flowchart which concerns on the Example of this invention

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration for carrying out the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 for controlling operations. The CPU 101 controls the focus and zoom of the photographic lens 103 and processes image data from the imaging circuit 104 that captures the subject image formed by the photographic lens 103. The imaging circuit 104 includes an aperture mechanism (not shown), an imaging element such as a CCD or CMOS, an optical system driving circuit, an analog signal processing circuit, a digital signal processing circuit, and the like, and can capture still images and moving images.

  In addition, it controls the operation for displaying the captured image on the display unit 105. A memory 106 is an internal memory such as a ROM or a RAM, and stores a program for controlling the operation of the imaging apparatus, correction values, and the like. A memory for temporarily recording moving image data in this embodiment is also included here. Furthermore, there is a mode circuit 102 for determining the mode of the imaging apparatus in accordance with information from the mode switching SW (switch) 107. The mode of the imaging apparatus 100 includes a viewfinder function referred to as an EVF mode, a mode in which a through image is displayed on the display unit 105 to check a subject to be shot, a playback mode in which a recorded still image or video is played, and a shutter button. There is a self-timer mode that automatically captures an image after a set time has elapsed since it was pressed. Here, the through image refers to a moving image captured by an image sensor before and after capturing a still image.

  The recording medium 108 is a recording medium for finally recording moving image data and still image data. For example, the recording medium may be configured to include a removable portable memory such as an SD card or an IC card, or may be in a server on a network.

  Furthermore, there is a wireless circuit 109 configured by WiFi or the like that can exchange information with other devices by wireless communication. In addition, an NFC active tag 110 configured by an NFC (Near Field Communication) active tag capable of communicating when the wireless circuit 109 is closer than the wireless circuit 109 is provided. The NFC active tab 110 can also access the CPU 101 of the imaging apparatus 100.

  On the other hand, a device that communicates with the imaging device 100 will be described using a smartphone. The smartphone 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 for controlling the operation of the smartphone 200. The CPU 201 is configured to process functions such as a phone call (not shown). The display unit 205 displays information on the smartphone 200 itself or displays information received from the imaging device 100. Further, there is a wireless circuit 209 configured with WiFi or the like that can exchange information with other devices by wireless communication. In addition, an NFC reader 210 is provided that can communicate with the NFC active tag 110 when the NFC active tag 110 becomes a short distance.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the mode switching switch 107 of the imaging apparatus 100 is switched to the self-timer mode, the mode circuit 102 in the CPU 101 shifts to the self-timer mode (S101).

  Next, it is detected whether there is a request from the NFC reader 210 to the NFC active tag 110 (S102). Here, a method for detecting a request of the NFC active tag 110 will be described. Although not shown, the NFC reader 210 includes a transmitter that transmits a request. The request is formed according to a predetermined format including an identifier section for conveying a request identifier, and has a structure of NFC data exchange format (NDEF).

  On the other hand, the NFC active tag 110 includes a receiver that can receive a radio signal including NDEF transmitted from the NFC reader 210. The NFC active tag 110 detects a request by double-tuning the received NDEF signal by the CPU 101. Since the NFC active tag 110 can also access the CPU 101 of the imaging apparatus 100, for example, even when the power of the imaging apparatus 100 is turned off, if the NFC active tag 110 detects a request, the CPU 101 is turned on. It is also possible to turn on the power of the imaging apparatus 100 by performing the control.

  Next, when the request to the NFC active tag 110 is not detected, it is detected whether the self-timer function is executed in the mode circuit 102 (S108). On the other hand, when the self-timer function is executed, the photographing operation is performed based on the setting of the self-timer function (S109). On the other hand, when the self-timer function is not executed, it is detected again whether there is a request to the NFC active tag 110. Next, when the NFC reader 210 of the smartphone 200 and the NFC active tag 110 of the imaging device 100 are in a proximity state and a request to the NFC active tag 100 is detected, wireless communication between the smartphone 200 and the imaging device 100 is performed. Is established (S103). Here, the exchange of ID and password data between the smartphone 200 and the imaging device 100 may be performed by NFC. If wireless communication has been performed in the past or devices are registered in advance, settings related to wireless communication may be omitted.

  Next, image data obtained by processing data from the imaging circuit 104 that has captured the subject image formed by the imaging lens 103 of the imaging apparatus 100 as a through image by the CPU 101 is used as a wireless circuit of the smartphone 200 via the wireless circuit 109. It is sent to 209 (S104). In the smartphone 200, the CPU 201 displays the image data received by the wireless circuit 209 on the display unit 205 as a remote viewfinder image of the imaging device 100 (S105).

  Next, the user confirms the state of the subject while looking at the display unit 205 of the smartphone 200 (S106). Then, a zoom operation of the photographing lens 103 of the imaging device 100 is performed using an operation member (not shown) of the smartphone 200 using a wireless communication function. Further, the self-timer setting and the remote view shutter setting are similarly executed by the wireless communication function to perform a shooting operation and record it on the recording medium 108 (S107).

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. A part of the above-described embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  The automatic establishment of the remote viewfinder function may not be limited to the self-timer mode when the mode of the imaging device at the timing when the request to the NFC active tag is made. For example, when there is a request to NFC active tag even in the tripod mode where the user is likely to use the remote viewfinder function, by establishing wireless communication and moving to the remote viewfinder function, The number of scenes where the remote viewfinder function can be used without the user performing complicated operations increases. Furthermore, the user may be allowed to select whether to perform wireless communication establishment up to the remote viewfinder function without automatically establishing the remote viewfinder function. Even in this case, the remote viewfinder function can be used without complicated operations by the user.

100. Imaging device 101. CPU
102. Mode circuit 103. Imaging lens 104. Imaging circuit 105. Display unit 106. Memory 107. Mode switch 108. Recording medium 109. Wireless circuit 110. NFC active tag circuit 200. Smartphone 201. CPU
205. Display unit 209. Radio circuit 210. NFC leader

Claims (2)

In an imaging device having a communication function by NFC (Near Field Communication),
NFC request detection means for detecting a request to the NFC active tag;
Mode setting means for switching the mode of the imaging device;
Communication means for communicating between the imaging device and a device that has made a request to the NFC active tag;
NFC request timing detection means for detecting timing at which a request to the NFC active tag is made by the NFC request detection means;
Remote view means for sending a moving image acquired from the imaging device of the imaging device in the communication means to the device that has made a request to the NFC active tag;
The imaging apparatus, wherein the remote view means is executed when the mode of the imaging apparatus is a self-timer mode at a timing when a request to the NFC active tag is made.   2. The remote view unit according to claim 1, wherein the remote view unit executes the remote view unit at a timing when a request to the NFC active tag is made when the mode of the imaging apparatus is a tripod mode. Imaging device.