JP2015222879A - Imaging apparatus, imaging display control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus, an imaging display control method, and a program capable of properly reporting a state in long-term imaging, while reducing power consumption and reducing costs.SOLUTION: A digital camera device 1 comprises: a display unit 115 for displaying an imaged image; an LED 116 for displaying an imaging state or an imaging condition with lower power consumption than the display unit 115; a discrimination unit 110b which discriminates whether imaging is long-term imaging or not; and a controller 110a which, when the discrimination unit 110b discriminates that the imaging is long-term imaging, performs control to turn off the display of the display unit 115 and to cause the LED 116 to display variation with time of the state during the long-term imaging, in an identifiable manner.

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus, a photographing display control method, and a program.

  When taking a still image in a digital camera, a live view screen is first displayed on the monitor screen. When the exposure starts, the monitor screen of the main body is turned off, and when the exposure is completed, a live view screen is displayed on the monitor screen.

  On the other hand, as a kind of shooting mode, “Long-time shooting mode” that records an image after performing longer exposure time and noise reduction processing so that a subject in a dark place can be clearly shot There is. The long shooting mode generally refers to an operation mode in which shooting is performed with an exposure time exceeding 1 second. It is known that noise is generated by the image sensor used in the long-time shooting mode. In particular, an image sensor used in a compact type imaging apparatus is likely to generate noise due to dark current or the like. Therefore, in order to remove noise generated in the image sensor and obtain a higher quality image, “noise reduction processing” is performed after the image is captured in the long-time shooting mode.

In the noise reduction processing, after the long-time shooting (hereinafter referred to as “main shooting”) performed by the user's shutter operation, the imaging apparatus automatically closes the shutter and takes another image (hereinafter referred to as “ Dark image shooting ”), and the process of stopping shooting at the same exposure time as the main shooting and subtracting the dark image shooting image from the main shooting image. In the following description, the actual image is referred to as “main image”, and the dark image image is referred to as “dark image”.
By this noise reduction processing, noise (such as a light spot unrelated to the subject) generated by dark current or the like can be removed. As described above, the noise reduction processing is performed again for the same time as the exposure time of the main shooting, and further performs image calculation processing. Therefore, the longer the exposure time for actual shooting, the longer the time required for noise reduction processing.
For example, when performing exposure for 30 seconds, the monitor screen is turned off for 30 seconds of the main shooting, and the monitor screen is turned off for 30 seconds of dark image shooting. This indicates that the dark image is being photographed, and after the synthesis of the two images is completed, the screen returns to the live view screen for the next photographing.

  In this case, the user has to wait for a total of one minute or more, and it is desired to know how long the shooting is to be completed. Therefore, various proposals have been made to notify the user of the remaining time until the shooting is completed while shooting for a long time.

  In Patent Document 1, in the long-time shooting mode, there is a noise reduction processing unit that performs noise reduction processing after the exposure process is completed, and an imaging instruction is given when the fireworks display mode is selected as one of the long-time shooting modes. And a display means for displaying the remaining time of the exposure time on the monitor. The imaging device described in Patent Literature 1 displays the remaining time at the end of a monitor screen that performs live view display.

JP2012-156679A

  However, the imaging device described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which the remaining time of the exposure time is continuously displayed on a monitor screen with high power consumption, and thus has a problem that the influence on the remaining battery level is large.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides a photographing apparatus, a photographing display control method, and a program capable of appropriately notifying a change in state during photographing while reducing power consumption even during long-time photographing. It is an issue to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an embodiment of the present invention includes an imaging unit, a first display unit that displays a captured image, and a second display that consumes less power than the first display unit. And a control means for controlling the display of the first display means to be extinguished during photographing and the second display means to display the change in state during photographing in an identifiable manner, It is characterized by providing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a photographing apparatus, a photographing display control method, and a program capable of appropriately notifying a change in state during photographing while reducing power consumption even during long-time photographing. it can.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the digital camera apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera apparatus which concerns on the said Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating long-time shooting processing of the digital camera device according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating long-time shooting processing (continued) of the digital camera device according to the first embodiment. 3 is a timing chart illustrating long-time shooting processing of the digital camera device according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the long-time imaging | photography process of the digital camera apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a digital camera device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The imaging apparatus of the present embodiment is an example applied to a digital camera apparatus that performs “long exposure” as an example of long-time imaging.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera device 1 (photographing device) includes a liquid crystal monitor 11 (first display means), an LED 12 (second display means), and operation keys 13 to 13 on the back side of the camera body 1a. 15. In addition, a release key (also referred to as a shutter button) 16 related to an instruction to shoot a subject is provided on the upper surface of the camera body 1a.

  The liquid crystal monitor 11 is a large display that covers the back of the camera body 1a and displays captured images and various types of information. The liquid crystal monitor 11 includes, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a white LED backlight, and each driver. Further, the liquid crystal monitor 11 may be an organic EL monitor constituted by an organic EL (Organic Electro-Luminescence) display or the like.

  The LED 12 emits light or blinks to display shooting conditions and the like. The LED 12 is arranged separately from a monitor screen (liquid crystal monitor 11) formed of an LCD display or an organic EL display. The LED 12 only needs to have lower power consumption than the liquid crystal monitor 11, and may be a small LCD display for displaying shooting conditions and the like.

The operation keys 13 to 15 perform a predetermined operation of the digital camera device 1. Here, for example, the selection determination button 13 (operation key) related to the selection instruction of the shooting mode and the function, and the zoom buttons 14 and 15 (operation key) related to the zoom amount adjustment instruction. Although not shown, the camera body 1a includes a zoom operation switch, an operation mode switching switch for switching between a recording mode (REC mode) and a playback mode (PLAY mode), a liquid crystal monitor switch, a flash key, a self-timer key, Various switches for menu keys are provided. An operation signal corresponding to the operation of each button of these operation keys is sent to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 110 (
(See FIG. 2).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital camera apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera device 1 includes an imaging optical system 101 (imaging unit), an image sensor 102 (imaging unit), an image processing unit 103, an imaging control unit 104, a CPU 110 (control unit), an SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM). ) 111, a flash memory 112, an external memory 113, a key operation unit 114, a display unit 115 (first display unit) for displaying a captured image on the monitor screen, and an LED 116 (second display unit) And each element is connected by a system bus 117. The digital camera device 1 also includes a battery 118 made of a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, and a power source 119 that supplies a predetermined voltage level to each unit based on the power of the battery 118. The display unit 115 corresponds to the liquid crystal monitor 11 of FIG. 1, the LED 116 corresponds to the LED 12 of FIG. 1, and the key operation unit 114 corresponds to the operation keys 13 to 15 and the release key 16 of FIG. .

  The imaging optical system 101 includes a plurality of lenses such as a focus lens that moves along the optical axis for adjusting the in-focus state and a zoom lens that moves along the optical axis to change the optical image of the subject. The image sensor 102 includes a diaphragm and a shutter that adjust the amount of light of the subject image incident on the sensor 102, and forms the subject image on the image sensor 102.

  The image sensor 102 converts a subject to be imaged by the imaging optical system 101 into an electric signal (video signal). For example, the image sensor 102 is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) or a charge coupled device (CCD). The drive mode of the image sensor 102 includes “normal mode” for performing normal shooting, “long-time shooting mode” for performing long-time main shooting, and “dark image shooting mode” for performing dark image shooting.

  In the live view display (also referred to as REC through display) monitoring state, an image signal obtained by imaging by the image sensor 102 is sent to an AGC (Automatic Gain Control) / A / D conversion unit (not shown) to perform correlated square sampling and automatic gain adjustment. , A / D conversion processing is executed and digitized. The digital image data is held in the SDRAM 111 via the system bus 117. The SDRAM 111 has a capacity capable of holding image data for at least two frames.

The image processing unit 103 appropriately performs necessary image processing on the image data held in the SDRAM 111. For example, in the image processing unit 103, digital development processing, specifically pixel interpolation processing, is performed on image data (RAW (raw) data) corresponding to the configuration of the color filter of the Bayer array included in the image sensor 102 held by the SDRAM 111. , Gamma correction processing,
By performing demosaic processing such as matrix calculation, the image data is converted into luminance / chrominance (YUV) image data. In addition, the image processing unit 103 creates image data in which the number of pixels and gradation bits are greatly reduced for display from the developed image data, and sends the image data to the display unit 115 via the system bus 117. The display unit 115 performs live view display based on the transmitted image data.

  The imaging control unit 104 performs imaging control such as focusing / exposure on the imaging optical system 101 and the image sensor 102 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 110. For example, the imaging control unit 104 moves the focus lens of the imaging optical system 101 back and forth on the optical axis to perform a focusing operation, and adjusts the aperture opening and shutter opening / closing time of the imaging optical system 101. Exposure control and light emission control for irradiating the photographing auxiliary light toward the subject are performed. The imaging control unit 104 also has a V driver (vertical driver) that drives the image sensor 102, and drives the image sensor 102 by the V driver based on the generated predetermined timing signal. As a result, the image sensor 102 outputs an analog imaging signal corresponding to the luminance of the subject image to the image processing unit 103. Note that the shooting control unit 104 executes part of long-time shooting (long exposure as an example) control in cooperation with the CPU 110.

  The CPU 110 reads a control program, data, and the like stored in the flash memory 112 and develops them in the SDRAM 111, and the CPU 110 executes various processes. The CPU 110 performs overall control of the digital camera device 1. Further, the CPU 110 executes a control operation in response to various key operation signals input directly from the key operation unit 114.

The CPU 110 includes a control unit 110a (control unit) and a determination unit 110b (determination unit).
When long-time shooting is started, the control unit 110a controls the display unit 115 to turn off the display, and the LED 116 displays the state during long-time shooting in an identifiable manner. Specifically, the control unit 110a blinks and displays the LED 116 so that a temporal change in a state during long-time shooting can be identified. For example, the control unit 110a changes the blinking speed of the LED 116 or the number of blinks in repetition of blinking and extinguishing.

  In addition, the control unit 110a displays the LED 116 so that different types of exposure performed sequentially during long-time shooting can be identified. In the present embodiment, the different exposures are exposure of the main image and exposure of the dark image. Further, as will be described later in the second embodiment, different exposures may be exposures that are continuously performed a plurality of times while changing photographing conditions. Further, other long-time shooting may be performed, and long-time shooting includes processing time for the long-time shooting.

  In addition, when the LEDs 116 can display a plurality of colors, the control unit 110a changes the colors displayed by the LEDs 116 so that the temporal changes in a plurality of states during long-time shooting can be identified. In this case, it is assumed that the control unit 110a performs control so that the LED 116 displays the remaining time until the end of the long-time shooting so as to be identifiable.

  The determination unit 110b determines whether or not the shooting is for a long time. Specifically, the determination unit 110b selects a shooting scene in which a long exposure time is automatically set, selects a shooting scene in which a plurality of shootings are continuously performed, or manually. When a long exposure time is set, it is determined that the shooting is long shooting.

  Here, the control unit 110a turns off the display of the display unit 115 and identifies temporal changes in a plurality of states during long-time shooting when the determination unit 110b determines that shooting is long-time shooting. Control to display as possible. Details of the long-time shooting process of the control unit 110a will be described later.

  The SDRAM 111 temporarily stores a working memory space used when the CPU 110 executes the control program or various types of generated data.

  The flash memory 112 stores a control program executed by the CPU 110 and initial setting data. The flash memory 112 is composed of an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory, and fixedly stores various operation programs and data including a long-time shooting process described later.

  The external memory 113 is a recording memory that is detachably attached to the camera body 1a (see FIG. 1) and serves as a recording medium of the digital camera device 1.

The key operation unit 114 includes, for example, a power key, a release key for still image shooting, a “REC” key for moving image shooting, a zoom up / down key, a shooting mode key, a playback mode key, a menu key, a cursor (“ ↑ ”→→” ↓ ”“ ← ”) key, set key, release key, display key, etc. The key operation unit 114 includes the operation keys 13 to 15 and the release key 16 shown in FIG.
The user can take a picture using the shooting parameters when shooting an image. The shooting parameter information includes various shooting parameters such as exposure, shutter speed, auxiliary light, angle of view, shooting mode (close-up, night view, fireworks, sepia, monochrome, etc.), white balance, and the like.

  The display unit 115 includes a liquid crystal panel (the liquid crystal monitor 11 in FIG. 1) that displays an image, and a display control unit (not shown). The liquid crystal panel is, for example, an LCD display with a backlight. The display control unit reads display image data temporarily stored in the flash memory 112, and based on the image data of a predetermined size decoded by the image processing unit 103, a predetermined image is displayed on the display panel. Control the display on the display screen. In addition, the display control unit displays the live view image on the display panel while sequentially updating a plurality of frame images generated by imaging the subject at a predetermined frame rate. The display control unit displays an image recorded as a still image (live view image) on the display panel, or displays an image being recorded as a moving image on the display panel.

  The LED 116 emits light or blinks to display a shooting state or shooting conditions. The LED 116 has lower power consumption than the display unit 115 made of an LCD display or an organic EL display. The LED 116 is provided in the camera body 1a for uses such as a focused state and notification during flash charging. In the present embodiment, the LED 116 is used as a “second display unit” that displays the state during long-time photographing so as to be identifiable. The LED 116 may be an LED that can display a plurality of colors (for example, green, yellow, and red).

  The power source 119 supplies driving power to each component inside the camera body 1a of the digital camera device 1 based on a battery 118 (lithium ion secondary battery) or an external power source.

Hereinafter, a photographing display control method of the digital camera device configured as described above will be described.
First, the basic concept will be described by taking an example of performing “long exposure” as long-time shooting.
In the case of long exposure (long shooting), after the user operates the release key 16 and the main image is taken, the control unit 110a closes the shutter and takes a dark image with the same exposure time as the main image. By subtracting and synthesizing images, noise of the image sensor is suppressed. After the synthesis of the two images is completed, the display returns to the live view display for the next shooting. Since the exposure time is long, it is preferable to inform the user of the operating state of the camera at the end of shooting. However, in the aspect in which the remaining time is displayed at the end of the monitor screen that performs live view display, the monitor screen with high power consumption is continuously displayed, and thus the influence on the remaining battery level is large.

Therefore, the digital camera device 1 of the present embodiment keeps the LED 116 with low power consumption constant while turning off the monitor screen with high power consumption during main shooting and turning off the monitor screen during dark image shooting during long-time shooting. By flashing the time, it is possible to identify the remaining time until the end of the long-time shooting and the dark image shooting. In this case, by changing the blinking time interval or blinking pattern of the LED 116 according to the remaining time until the end of the long-time shooting, the user can know how long the long-time shooting is to end.
The characteristics of this operation are as follows.

(1) LED 116 (No. 1) provided for the camera main body 1a of the digital camera device 1 for other purposes during shooting by long exposure (long shooting) (monitor screen is turned off). 2 display means) to make the user identifiable. Note that there is already one that turns off the monitor screen after the start of long exposure.

(2) The blinking interval of the LED 116 is changed according to the remaining time until the end of long-time shooting. For example, the blinking interval of the LED 116 is increased as the remaining time until the end of long-time shooting is shorter.

(3) The display of the LED 116 makes it possible to discriminate between main shooting (exposure of the main image) and dark image shooting (exposure time of the dark image and exposure of the main image). Note that there are already LED lighting during actual shooting and LED blinking during dark image shooting.

(4) The application target of the present imaging display control method may be long-time imaging, and is not limited to the long-time exposure. For example, as long-time shooting other than long-time exposure, there is a HDR (High Dynamic Range) which generates a panoramic image mainly by continuous shooting synthesis or an image having an expanded dynamic range by continuous shooting synthesis. An example of long-time shooting by HDR will be described in Embodiment 2.

(5) The remaining time until the end of long-time shooting is displayed on the second display means with low power consumption. That is, the second display means may be any means with low power consumption, and the LED 116 is used as an example, but other display means with low power consumption may be used. In addition, when a plurality of LEDs are used, a predetermined area is required on the housing, and an increase in cost is unavoidable. In this embodiment, one LED 116 is used.

(6) When the LED 116 is an LED that can emit light of a plurality of colors, the remaining time may be displayed by color in addition to the above flashing or in combination with the flashing. In the case of long exposure, it is preferable to be able to distinguish between actual shooting (exposure of the main image) and dark image shooting (exposure of the dark image).

  3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the long-time shooting process of the digital camera device. This flow is executed by the CPU 110. FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the long-time shooting process of the digital camera device.

  First, in step S11, the control unit 110a determines whether or not the shooting mode is set. If the shooting mode is not set (step S11: No), this flow ends. By setting the shooting mode, the live view display is displayed on the monitor screen (see symbol a in FIG. 5). The live view display may be referred to as REC through display.

When the shooting mode is set (step S11: Yes), in step S12, the determination unit 110b determines whether the long-time shooting mode is set. The determination unit 110b determines whether or not the shooting is for a long time. For example, the determination unit 110b sets the long-time shooting mode when a shooting scene in which a long exposure time is automatically set is selected or when a long exposure time is manually set. Is determined.
If the long-time shooting mode is not set (step S12: No), this flow ends.

  When the long-time shooting mode is set (step S12: Yes), in step S13, the control unit 110a determines whether or not the release key 16 is pressed, and waits until the release key 16 is pressed (No in step S13). ).

  When the release key 16 is pressed (step S13: Yes), in step S14, the control unit 110a changes the drive mode of the image sensor 102 to the long-time shooting mode and starts main shooting (exposure of the main image) ( (See symbol b in FIG. 5). The controller 110a turns off the monitor screen simultaneously with the start of the main shooting (exposure of the main image). When the display unit 115 is an LCD display with a backlight, the monitor screen is turned off for the entire LCD display including the liquid crystal display or for the backlight. When the display unit 115 is an organic EL display, the entire organic EL display is turned off.

  Next, in step S15, the control unit 110a starts blinking the LED 116 at a long blinking time interval (here, an interval of 3 seconds) that is the longest remaining time (see symbol c in FIG. 5).

  Next, in step S16, the control unit 110a determines whether or not it is within a predetermined time (here, 3 minutes) until the end of the main photographing. The predetermined time until the end of the main photographing is the remaining time of the exposure time of the main image. If it is not within the predetermined time (3 minutes) until the end of the main photographing (step S16: No), the process returns to step S15, and the LED 116 continues to blink at intervals of 3 seconds.

When it is within the predetermined time (3 minutes) until the end of the main photographing (step S16: Yes), in step S17, the control unit 110a sets the flashing time interval of the LED 116 to the flashing time interval of the middle time which is the middle remaining time ( Here, it is narrowed to an interval of 2 seconds (see symbol d in FIG. 5).
In step S18, the control unit 110a keeps the LED 116 blinking at the blinking time interval narrowed from 3 seconds to 2 seconds (see symbol d in FIG. 5).

  Next, in step S19, the control unit 110a determines whether or not it is within a predetermined time (here, 1 minute) until the end of the main photographing. If it is not within the predetermined time (1 minute) until the end of the main photographing (step S19: No), the process returns to step S18, and the LED 116 continues to blink at intervals of 2 seconds.

If it is within the predetermined time (1 minute) until the end of the main photographing (step S19: Yes), in step S20, the control unit 110a sets the blinking time interval of the LED 116 as the shortest remaining time (here, the blinking time interval) Then, it is narrowed to an interval of 1 second (see symbol e in FIG. 5).
In step S21, the control unit 110a continues to blink the LED 116 at a blinking time interval narrowed from 2 seconds to 1 second (see symbol e in FIG. 5).

  Next, in step S22, the control unit 110a determines whether or not the main photographing (exposure of the main image) is finished. If it is not the end of the main photographing (step S22: No), the process returns to step S21 and the LED 116 continues to blink at intervals of 1 second.

When the main shooting is finished (step S22: Yes), in step S23, the control unit 110a closes the shutter (see symbol f in FIG. 5), and ends the main shooting (exposure of the main image) (code g in FIG. 5). reference).
When the main photographing is completed, the control unit 110a stores the main image in the SDRAM 111 in step S23.

  Next, in step S24, the control unit 110a changes the drive mode of the image sensor 102 to the dark image shooting mode, and starts dark image shooting (dark image exposure) (see symbol h in FIG. 5).

  Next, in step S25, the control unit 110a starts blinking the LED 116 at the long blinking time interval (here, every 3 seconds) for dark image shooting (see symbol i in FIG. 5).

  Next, in step S26, the control unit 110a determines whether or not it is within a predetermined time (here, 3 minutes) until the end of dark image shooting. If it is not within the predetermined time (3 minutes) until the end of dark image shooting (step S26: No), the process returns to step S25, and the LED 116 continues to blink at intervals of 3 seconds.

When it is within the predetermined time (3 minutes) until the end of dark image shooting (step S26: Yes), in step S27, the control unit 110a sets the blinking time interval of the LED 116 to the blinking time interval of the middle time of dark image shooting ( Here, the interval is narrowed to an interval of 2 seconds (see symbol j in FIG. 5), and the process proceeds to step S28 in FIG.
In step S28, the control unit 110a continues to blink the LED 116 at the blinking time interval narrowed from 3 seconds to 2 seconds (see symbol j in FIG. 5).

  Next, in step S29, the control unit 110a determines whether or not it is within a predetermined time (here, 1 minute) until the end of dark image shooting. If it is not within the predetermined time (1 minute) until the end of dark image shooting (step S29: No), the process returns to step S28, and the LED 116 continues to blink at intervals of 2 seconds.

When it is within the predetermined time (1 minute) until the end of dark image shooting (step S29: Yes), in step S30, the control unit 110a sets the blinking time interval of the LED 116 to the short blinking time interval (here, 1). (Refer to symbol k in FIG. 5).
In step S31, the control unit 110a continues to blink the LED 116 at a blinking time interval narrowed from 2 seconds to 1 second (see symbol k in FIG. 5).

Next, in step S32, the control unit 110a determines whether or not the dark image shooting (dark image exposure) is finished. If the dark image shooting is not finished (step S32: No), the process returns to step S31, and the LED 116 continues to blink at 1 second intervals.
When dark image shooting is completed (step S32: Yes), in step S32, the control unit 110a opens the shutter (see symbol m in FIG. 5), changes the drive mode of the image sensor 102 to the normal mode, and ends shooting. (See symbol 1 in FIG. 5).
When the dark image shooting is completed, the control unit 110a stores the dark image (the image obtained by shooting the dark image) in the SDRAM 111 in step S33.

In step S <b> 34, the control unit 110 a subtracts the dark image from the main image and composes it to create a single photographed image, which is stored in the flash memory 112 or the external memory 113.
In step S35, the control unit 110a performs live view display on the monitor screen and ends this flow.

Note that the remaining time of dark image shooting may be displayed as a time including the processing time of composition after exposure of the dark image.
Hereinafter, specific examples will be described.

[Application example]
As an example of long-time shooting, long-time exposure is taken as an example, and a case where “starry sky”, “night view”, or the like is selected as a long-time exposure shooting scene is assumed. Further, a case where the shutter speed is set to 30 seconds or more (can be arbitrarily changed) by user setting will be taken as an example.
It is assumed that the LED 116 blinks only in one color. The digital camera device 1 makes it possible to identify the remaining time until the end of long-time shooting based on the blinking speed (flashing speed) of the LED 116. In this example, exposure types such as exposure of the main image (main shooting) and exposure of the dark image (dark image shooting) are not distinguished.

Blinks at 3 second intervals longer than 3 minutes (see steps S15 and S25 in FIG. 3)
The remaining time flashes at intervals of 3 to 1 minute and 2 seconds (see steps S18 and S28 in FIGS. 3 and 4).
The remaining time blinks within 1 minute at 1 second intervals (see step S20 and step S31 in FIGS. 3 and 4).
Here, the state relating to shooting different from that during long-time shooting includes, for example, a shooting standby state (during live view display) in normal shooting, halfway pressing of the release key, and processing after execution of shooting.

[Modification 1]
It is assumed that the LED 116 blinks only in one color. The digital camera device 1 makes it possible to identify the remaining time until the end of long-time shooting based on the number of blinks of the LED 116. Further, it is assumed that the types of exposure such as exposure of the main image (main shooting) and exposure of the dark image (dark image shooting) are not distinguished.
The remaining time is longer than 3 minutes: blinks 5 times at 1 second intervals and turns off for 3 seconds repeatedly.
The remaining time is 3 to 1 minute: blinking 3 times at intervals of 1 second, and repeatedly turning off for 3 seconds.
Remaining time within 1 minute: Flashes at 1 second intervals.

[Modification 2]
It is assumed that the LED 116 blinks only in one color. The digital camera device 1 makes it possible to identify the type of exposure based on the blinking speed of the LED 116. In this example, the remaining time until the end of long shooting is not identified.
Exposure of the main image (main shooting): Blinks at 3 second intervals Exposure of the dark image (dark image shooting): Blinks at 1 second intervals

[Modification 3]
It is assumed that the LED 116 can blink in a plurality of colors (red, yellow, green). The digital camera device 1 makes it possible to identify the remaining time until the end of long-time shooting by blinking a plurality of colors of the LEDs 116. Further, it is assumed that the types of exposure such as exposure of the main image (main shooting) and exposure of the dark image (dark image shooting) are not distinguished.
Remaining time longer than 3 minutes: Red flashing Remaining time 3 to 1 minute: Yellow flashing Remaining time within 1 minute: Green flashing

[Modification 4]
It is assumed that the LED 116 can blink in a plurality of colors. The digital camera device 1 makes it possible to identify both the remaining time until the end of long-time shooting and the type of exposure by blinking a plurality of colors of the LEDs 116.
・ Exposure of the main image (main shooting)
Remaining time 3 minutes or more: Green blinks every 3 seconds Remaining time 3 to 1 minute: Green blinks every 2 seconds Remaining time within 1 minute: Green blinks every 1 second

・ Dark image exposure (dark image shooting)
Remaining time 3 minutes or more: Red blinks every 3 seconds Remaining time 3 to 1 minute: Red blinks every 2 seconds Remaining time within 1 minute: Red blinks every 1 second

  Here, also in the fourth modification, it is possible to notify the remaining time until the end of long-time shooting by the number of blinks (the number of blinks before and after the extinguishing period) instead of the blinking speed of the LED 116. For example, if the remaining time is longer than 3 minutes, it is repeatedly blinked 5 times at 1 second intervals and turned off for 3 seconds. When the remaining time is within 3 minutes, it blinks 3 times in 1 second and turns off for 3 seconds. If it is within 1 minute, it will blink at 1 second intervals. With this configuration, it is possible to intuitively notify the user of the remaining time until the end of long-time shooting based on the number of blinks of the LED 116.

  As described above, the digital camera device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the display unit 115 that displays a captured image, and the LED 116 that displays a shooting state or shooting conditions with lower power consumption than the display unit 115. The determination unit 110b for determining whether or not the shooting is long-time shooting, and when the determination unit 110b determines that the shooting is long-time shooting, the display of the display unit 115 is turned off and the LED 116 is And a control unit 110a that controls to display a state during long-time shooting in an identifiable manner. As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the flashing time interval (3 seconds → 2 seconds → 1 second) and the flashing pattern (3 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 second) are changed according to the time until the end of long-time shooting. .

  As a result, during long-time shooting (long-time exposure in the present embodiment), the main display means (display unit 115) such as a monitor screen such as an LCD that is relatively large in power consumption is turned off, and the power consumption is reduced. For example, the user finishes the long-time shooting while reducing the power consumption by displaying the change in the long-time shooting state in an identifiable manner to the user with the relatively small sub display means (LED 116). To know the remaining time until and the type of long-time shooting processing (switching timing between the main shooting (exposure of the main image (captured image) and the dark image shooting (exposure of the dark image)), etc. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the situation where the user simply waits for the end of shooting for a long time in the dark such as “night view”, and the feeling of frustration can be alleviated.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 110a appropriately displays the state during long-time shooting by blinking the LED 116 so that the temporal change in the state during long-time shooting can be identified. Can be notified.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 110a can appropriately notify the remaining time until the end of long-time shooting depending on the manner of blinking by changing the blinking speed or the number of blinks of the LED 116.

Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 110a appropriately notifies the remaining time until the end of the long-time shooting by controlling the LED 116 so that the remaining time until the end of the long-time shooting is identifiable. be able to.

Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 110a can identify different types of shooting processing (main image exposure (main shooting) and dark image exposure (dark image shooting)) that are sequentially performed during long-time shooting. As described above, by displaying the LED 116, it is possible to appropriately notify the state during long-time shooting.
That is, in this embodiment, the remaining time in the exposure of the main image (main shooting) flashes at intervals of 3 seconds, 2 seconds, and 1 second, and then the remaining time in the exposure of the dark image (dark image shooting). Since the time blinks at intervals of 3 seconds, 2 seconds, and 1 second, the user can change the blinking interval of both exposures (changes that blinked at 1 second intervals return to blinking at 3 second intervals). By recognizing, it is possible to appropriately notify the state during long-time shooting. When the exposure of the main image (main shooting) is completed, the digital camera device 1 can be moved during the exposure of the dark image (dark image shooting). Is beneficial in terms of

  Further, in the present embodiment, a determination unit 110b that determines whether or not shooting is long-time shooting is provided, and the control unit 110a displays when the determination unit 110b determines that shooting is long-time shooting. By controlling the display of the unit 115 to be extinguished and to display the change in a plurality of states during long-time shooting in an identifiable manner, it is possible to appropriately notify the state change during long-time shooting.

  In this embodiment, the blinking interval of the LED 116 is changed. However, when the LED 116 capable of displaying a plurality of colors (for example, green, yellow, and red) is used, the color that the LED 116 is lit is photographed for a long time (long exposure). It can also be changed according to the remaining time. For example, when the remaining time until the end of long-time shooting is longer than 3 minutes, red blinks, when the remaining time is less than 3 minutes, blinks yellow, and blinks green when less than 1 minute.

  In addition, when the LED 116 capable of displaying a plurality of colors is used, the types of different shooting processes (main image exposure (main shooting) and dark image exposure (dark image shooting)) sequentially performed during long-time shooting are identified. It is also possible to display as possible. For example, it is possible to clearly indicate to the user that the exposure of the main image (main shooting) is completed by flashing in red when the main image is exposed and flashing in green when the dark image is exposed. As described above, once the exposure of the main image (main shooting) is completed, the digital camera device 1 can be moved during the exposure of the dark image (dark image shooting). In addition to the blinking change, the color change is also used to notify the user, so that the user can easily understand the temporal change in the state during long-time shooting. More useful.

  In the present embodiment, the LED 116 (the LED 12 in FIG. 1) already installed in the camera body 1a for applications such as the focused state and notification during charging of the flash is used as the “second display unit”. By using it, it can be realized at a low cost without causing an increase in the number of components (including a driver circuit). Moreover, since the existing LED 116 is used, the installation space on the camera body 1a and the degree of freedom in layout can be improved. Note that the LED 116 is not used for in-focus state or notification during flash charging during long-time shooting, so the notification function to the user is not impaired.

(Embodiment 2)
The first embodiment is an example applied to a digital camera device that performs “long exposure” as long-time shooting.
The second embodiment describes an example applied to a digital camera device that executes HDR composition for long-time shooting.
The external configuration of the digital camera device according to the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.

The block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera device according to the present embodiment is the same as FIG.
In this embodiment, the control unit 110a of the CPU 110 in FIG. 2 turns off the display on the display unit 115 and starts the remaining time until the HDR composite image is generated when long-time shooting (HDR synthesis) is started. The LED 116 is displayed so that it can be identified. In addition, the determination unit 110b determines that the long-time shooting mode is set when a shooting scene in which a plurality of times of imaging is continuously performed is selected.

The imaging control unit 104 in FIG. 2 has the following functions. Note that the SDRAM 111 in FIG. 2 has a capacity capable of holding image data for at least five frames.
Based on a long-time shooting instruction from the CPU 110, the shooting control unit 104 controls the imaging optical system 101 to take a plurality of images with substantially the same composition while changing the exposure conditions. That is, the imaging control unit 104 controls the execution of exposure bracket imaging, and sequentially sets exposure conditions when the imaging optical system 101 and the image sensor 102 capture an object. That is, the imaging control unit 104 adjusts the shutter speed (exposure time), signal amplification factor (ISO sensitivity), aperture value of the aperture, and the like of the image sensor 102 based on a predetermined program diagram. Then, for example, the photographing control unit 104 controls the shutter speed, the signal amplification factor, the aperture value, and the like so that the appropriate exposure is set as a reference value and the underexposure and overexposure are performed with respect to the reference value. A plurality of images having substantially the same composition in a fixed state are continuously captured by the image sensor 102. The imaging control unit 104 causes the image sensor 102 to continuously capture a plurality of images by changing the brightness of the images having substantially the same composition in a plurality of stages.

  Note that the imaging control unit 104 may adjust the in-focus position of the imaging optical system 101 by moving the image sensor 102 in the optical axis direction instead of the focus lens of the imaging optical system 101. In addition, the imaging control unit 104 may perform adjustment control of conditions when imaging a subject such as AF (automatic focusing process), AE (automatic exposure process), and AWB (automatic white balance).

  The image processing unit 103 generates an HDR composite image that further expands the dynamic range. Specifically, the image processing unit 103 adds a plurality of pieces of image data obtained by being controlled by the shooting control unit 104 to generate image data that expands the dynamic range. For example, the image processing unit 103 acquires, from the flash memory 112, image data captured a plurality of times with different exposure conditions (for example, appropriate exposure, underexposure, overexposure, etc.) with substantially the same composition. Image data (YUV data) of an HDR composite image with an expanded dynamic range is generated by adding luminance components of corresponding pixels.

Hereinafter, a photographing display control method of the digital camera device configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing long-time shooting processing of the digital camera device according to the present embodiment. This flow is executed by the CPU 110 (see FIG. 2).

First, in step S41, the control unit 110a determines whether or not the shooting mode is set. If the shooting mode is not set (step S41: No), the flow ends. By setting the shooting mode, the live view display is displayed on the monitor screen.
If the shooting mode is set (step S41: Yes), in step S42, the determination unit 110b determines whether the HDR synthesis mode is set as the long-time shooting mode. If the HDR synthesis mode is not set (step S42: No), this flow ends.

  When the HDR synthesis mode is set (step S42: Yes), in step S43, the control unit 110a determines whether or not the release key 16 is pressed, and waits until the release key 16 is pressed (No in step S43). .

  When the release key 16 is pressed (step S43: Yes), in step S44, the control unit 110a instructs the photographing control unit 104 and the image processing unit 203 to perform HDR composition, and turns off the monitor screen.

In step S <b> 45, the imaging control unit 104 controls the imaging optical system 101 and the image sensor 102 to continuously capture a plurality of images while changing exposure conditions. For example, the imaging control unit 104 controls the imaging optical system 101 and the image sensor 102 so that the exposure is underexposure and overexposure with respect to the reference value with the appropriate exposure as a reference value, thereby increasing the shutter speed and the signal amplification. By controlling the ratio, the aperture value, and the like, a plurality of images (for example, three images, etc.) having substantially the same composition in a state where the focal length is fixed are continuously taken and held in the SDRAM 111.
In step S <b> 46, the image processing unit 103 generates an HDR composite image based on the image data of each continuously captured image held in the SDRAM 111.

Next, in step S47, the control unit 110a starts blinking the LED 116 at the long blinking time interval (here, every 3 seconds).
Next, in step S48, the control unit 110a determines whether or not it is within a predetermined time (here, 3 minutes) until the HDR composite image generation ends. The predetermined time until the end of the HDR composite image is based on the image data of each image continuously captured by the image processing unit 103 while the image capturing control unit 104 continuously captures a plurality of images while changing the exposure condition. This is the remaining time until the HDR composite image is generated. If it is not within the predetermined time (3 minutes) until the end of the HDR composite image (step S48: No), the process returns to step S47 and the LED 116 continues to blink at intervals of 3 seconds.

When it is within the predetermined time (3 minutes) until the end of the HDR composite image (step S48: Yes), in step S49, the control unit 110a sets the blinking time interval of the LED 116 as the intermediate time blinking time interval (here, 2 seconds). (Spacing).
In step S50, the control unit 110a continues to blink the LED 116 at the blinking time interval narrowed from 3 seconds to 2 seconds.

  Next, in step S51, the control unit 110a determines whether or not it has become within a predetermined time (here, 1 minute) until the HDR composite image generation ends. If it is not within the predetermined time (1 minute) until the HDR composite image generation is completed (step S51: No), the process returns to step S50, and the LED 116 continues to blink at intervals of 2 seconds.

When it is within the predetermined time (1 minute) until the HDR composite image generation is completed (step S51: Yes), in step S52, the control unit 110a sets the blinking time interval of the LED 116 to the short blinking time interval (here, 1). (Second interval).
In step S53, the control unit 110a continues to blink the LED 116 at a blinking time interval narrowed from 2 seconds to 1 second.

Next, in step S54, the control unit 110a determines whether or not the HDR composite image generation is finished. If the HDR composite image generation is not finished (step S54: No), the process returns to step S53, and the LED 116 continues to blink at 1 second intervals.
When the HDR composite image generation is completed (step S54: Yes), in step S55, the control unit 110a stores the HDR composite image in the flash memory 112 or the external memory 113 and ends this flow.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of images are continuously captured, and the LED 116 starts blinking when the generation of the HDR composite image is started. However, a plurality of images are continuously captured. The LED 116 is blinked so as to be able to distinguish between the intermediate state and the state during generation of the HDR composite image, or the LED 116 is blinked so as to be able to identify which of the plurality of images is being taken. Also good.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the digital camera device includes the shooting control unit 104 that controls to capture multiple times with substantially the same composition while changing the exposure condition according to the long-time shooting instruction of the CPU 110, and the dynamic range. An image processing unit 103 that generates an HDR composite image to be enlarged, and the determination unit 110b of the CPU 110 sets a long-time shooting mode when a shooting scene in which a plurality of times of imaging is continuously performed is selected. When the long-time shooting is started, the control unit 110a turns off the display of the display unit 115 and can identify the types of different shooting processes sequentially performed during the long-time shooting. Thus, the LED 116 is displayed.

  As a result, during long-time shooting (in this embodiment, HDR synthesis), the main display means (display unit 115) such as a monitor screen of an LCD or the like that consumes relatively large power is turned off, and the power consumption is relatively high. The subordinate display means (LED 116) displays the change in the long-time shooting state to the user in an identifiable manner, thereby reducing power consumption and providing the user with long-time shooting. The remaining time until the end can be notified.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, by using the LED 116 capable of displaying a plurality of colors (for example, green, yellow, and red), the color in which the LED 116 is lit is photographed for a long time (HDR synthesis). ) Can be changed according to the remaining time. In this way, the remaining time until the end of the HDR synthesizing process can be notified more easily by the change in display color.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the digital camera device 2 includes the imaging control unit 104 and the image processing unit 203 has been described. However, an aspect in which HDR synthesis processing is performed by a dedicated application may be used. Even in this case, the HDR synthesizing process requires a certain time, so this control is effective.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes other modifications and application examples without departing from the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

  For example, the blinking time, number of blinks, and color of the LED can be set arbitrarily, and the type of exposure can be identified by the number of blinks, or the remaining time and the type of exposure can be identified by only the blinking time or number of blinks. It is arbitrary which method can be identified by which method, such as combining color types and the number of blinks.

Further, the remaining time until the end of the long-time shooting may be displayed as a shooting time including a composite time after exposure. In this case, it is preferable that the exposure and the synthesis can be distinguished.
Further, instead of the LED, a small LCD display or the like for displaying photographing conditions and the like arranged separately from the organic EL and the monitor screen may be used.

Further, the above-described exemplary embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Further, a part of the configuration of an embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of an embodiment. . Further, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each exemplary embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the names of the photographing device and the photographing display control method are used. However, this is for convenience of explanation, and the name of the device may be a digital camera, and the name of the method may be a display control method. .

  The photographing process described above is also realized by a program for causing this photographing process to function. This program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, the functions executed in the above-described embodiments may be combined as appropriate as possible. The above-described embodiment includes various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by an appropriate combination of a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, if the effect is obtained, a configuration from which the constituent requirements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

The invention described in the claims of the present application of the present application will be appended below. The item numbers of the claims described in the appendix are as set forth in the claims attached to the application of this application.
[Appendix]
<Claim 1>
Photographing means;
First display means for displaying a photographed photographed image;
Second display means having lower power consumption than the first display means;
During shooting, the display of the first display means is turned off, and
Control means for controlling the second display means so as to distinguishably display a change in state during the photographing;
An imaging apparatus comprising:

<Claim 2>
A determination means for determining whether or not the shooting is for a long time,
The control means includes
2. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the photographing unit determines that photographing is performed for a long time, the display of the first display unit is turned off.

<Claim 3>
The discriminating means sets a long exposure time when a shooting scene in which a long exposure time is automatically set is selected, a shooting scene in which a plurality of shootings are continuously performed is selected, or a long exposure time is set. The photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the photographing apparatus determines that the photographing is a long-time photographing.

<Claim 4>
The control means includes
3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein, while the first display unit is turned off, the second display unit is controlled to display the change in the state during the long-time shooting so as to be identifiable. Item 4. The photographing apparatus according to Item 3.

<Claim 5>
The control means includes
The said 2nd display means is blinked and displayed so that the temporal change of the state during the said imaging | photography can be identified, The Claim 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Shooting device.

<Claim 6>
6. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the blinking speed of the second display unit or the number of blinks in repetition of blinking and extinguishing.

<Claim 7>
The second display means can display a plurality of colors,
The control means includes
7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the second display unit displays a different color so that a temporal change in a plurality of states during the photographing can be identified. The imaging device according to one item.

<Claim 8>
The control means includes
8. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second display unit performs control so that a remaining time until the end of photographing is displayed in an identifiable manner.

<Claim 9>
The control means includes
The photographing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second display unit is displayed so that different types of photographing processing performed in order during photographing can be identified. apparatus.

<Claim 10>
The photographing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the different photographing processes are exposure of a photographed image and exposure of a dark image.

<Claim 11>
10. The photographing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the different photographing processes are photographing performed continuously a plurality of times while changing photographing conditions, and composition processing of images photographed continuously a plurality of times. .

<Claim 12>
The photographing according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the second display means is used for a purpose different from a display that enables identification of a change in state during photographing. apparatus.

<Claim 13>
A photographing display control method for a photographing apparatus,
Shooting steps,
Displaying the photographed image by the first display means;
Turning off the display of the first display means during shooting;
Controlling the second display means, which consumes less power than the first display means, to display the change in state during photographing in an identifiable manner;
An imaging display control method comprising:

<Claim 14>
The computer of the imaging device,
Photographing means,
First display means for displaying a photographed photographed image;
Second display means having lower power consumption than the first display means;
During shooting, the display of the first display means is turned off, and
Control means for controlling the second display means to display the change in the state during photographing in an identifiable manner;
A program characterized by functioning as

1 Digital camera device (photographing device)
1a Camera body 11 LCD monitor (first display means)
12,116 LED (second display means)
13-15 Operation keys 16 Release key (shutter button)
101 Imaging optical system (imaging means)
102 Image sensor (photographing means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 103 Image processing part 104 Image | photographing control part 110 CPU (control means)
111 SDRAM
112 Flash memory 113 External memory 114 Key operation unit 115 Display unit (first display means)
117 System bus

Claims (14)

Photographing means;
First display means for displaying a photographed photographed image;
Second display means having lower power consumption than the first display means;
During shooting, the display of the first display means is turned off, and
Control means for controlling the second display means so as to distinguishably display a change in state during the photographing;
An imaging apparatus comprising: A determination means for determining whether or not the shooting is for a long time,
The control means includes
2. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the photographing unit determines that photographing is performed for a long time, the display of the first display unit is turned off.   The discriminating means sets a long exposure time when a shooting scene in which a long exposure time is automatically set is selected, a shooting scene in which a plurality of shootings are continuously performed is selected, or a long exposure time is set. The photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the photographing apparatus determines that the photographing is a long-time photographing. The control means includes
3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein, while the first display unit is turned off, the second display unit is controlled to display the change in the state during the long-time shooting so as to be identifiable. Item 4. The photographing apparatus according to Item 3. The control means includes
The said 2nd display means is blinked and displayed so that the temporal change of the state during the said imaging | photography can be identified, The Claim 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Shooting device.   6. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the blinking speed of the second display unit or the number of blinks in repetition of blinking and extinguishing. The second display means can display a plurality of colors,
The control means includes
7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the second display unit displays a different color so that a temporal change in a plurality of states during the photographing can be identified. The imaging device according to one item. The control means includes
8. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second display unit performs control so that a remaining time until the end of photographing is displayed in an identifiable manner. The control means includes
The photographing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second display unit is displayed so that different types of photographing processing performed in order during photographing can be identified. apparatus. The photographing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the different photographing processes are exposure of a photographed image and exposure of a dark image.   10. The photographing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the different photographing processes are photographing performed continuously a plurality of times while changing photographing conditions, and composition processing of images photographed continuously a plurality of times. .   The photographing according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the second display means is used for a purpose different from a display that enables identification of a change in state during photographing. apparatus. A photographing display control method for a photographing apparatus,
Shooting steps,
Displaying the photographed image by the first display means;
Turning off the display of the first display means during shooting;
Controlling the second display means, which consumes less power than the first display means, to display the change in state during photographing in an identifiable manner;
An imaging display control method comprising: The computer of the imaging device,
Photographing means,
First display means for displaying a photographed photographed image;
Second display means having lower power consumption than the first display means;
During shooting, the display of the first display means is turned off, and
Control means for controlling the second display means to display the change in the state during photographing in an identifiable manner;
A program characterized by functioning as

Images