JP2016065998A - Imaging device and imaging program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device that allows users to quickly adjust a focus after the focus is controlled by a touch AF.SOLUTION: An imaging device 10 comprises: an imaging unit 110 that photographs a subject image formed by an image formation optical system 20 including a focus adjustment mechanism 220; a touch panel 105 that has a display unit 105a and a position detection unit 105b detecting an operation of users with respect to the display unit provided; an in-focus control unit 100 that controls the focus adjustment mechanism 220 so that the subject image is focused at a position where the position detection unit 105b detects the operation of the user; a focus control unit 100 that drives the focus adjustment mechanism 220 based on the operation of the user with respect to the touch panel 105; and a control unit 100 that switches to a control of the focus by the focus control unit 100 after a control of the focus adjustment mechanism 220 is implemented in the in-focus control unit 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an imaging program.

  An imaging apparatus having a touch AF function focuses on a position where a user's finger touches the touch panel, and performs shooting when the user's finger leaves the touch panel (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-17088 A

  In an imaging device having a touch AF function, the user cannot quickly adjust the focus after the focus is controlled by the touch AF.

An embodiment of the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by a photographing optical system including a focus adjustment mechanism, a touch panel including a display unit and a position detection unit that detects a user operation on the display unit, A focus control unit that controls the focus adjustment mechanism so that the subject image is in focus at a position where the position detection unit detects a user operation; and the focus adjustment mechanism based on a user operation on the touch panel. An imaging apparatus comprising: a focus control unit to be driven; and a control unit that switches to focus control by the focus control unit after the focus adjustment mechanism is controlled by the focus control unit.
In addition, an embodiment of the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by an imaging optical system including a focus adjustment mechanism, a display unit, and a position detection unit that detects a user operation on the display unit. An imaging program for an imaging apparatus including a touch panel, wherein the computer controls the focus adjustment mechanism so that the subject image is focused at a position where the position detection unit detects a user operation. A focus control means for driving the focus adjustment mechanism based on a user operation on the touch panel; and after the focus adjustment mechanism is controlled by the focus control means, the focus control by the focus control means And an imaging program that functions as a control means for switching to.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a camera 1 according to an embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the touch panel 105 in a touch AF mode. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relationship between a slide bar and the adjustable range of a focus. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of camera CPU100 in a touch AF mode. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of a display of a slide bar.

  Hereinafter, as an embodiment of the present invention, an example in which an imaging apparatus and an imaging program according to the present invention are applied to a digital camera (hereinafter also referred to as “camera”) will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a camera 1 according to the present embodiment. The camera 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as a lens interchangeable digital single-lens reflex camera in which a lens barrel 20 is detachably attached to a camera body 10.

  The camera body 10 includes a camera CPU 100, a photometry unit 101, a focus detection unit 102, and a shutter unit 103. The camera body 10 includes a touch panel 105, a display panel 106, a memory card I / F unit 107, an imaging unit 110, a storage unit 120, and an operation input unit 130.

  The camera CPU 100 is a semiconductor circuit that controls the operation of the entire camera 1 to which the lens barrel 20 is attached, and includes a microprocessor. The camera CPU 100 calculates a lens driving amount based on the defocus amount detected by the focus detection unit 102 and transmits a lens control signal corresponding to the lens driving amount to a lens CPU 200 (described later).

  The camera CPU 100 has a sensitivity setting unit (not shown) in addition to the photometric information of the subject acquired by the photometric unit 101 and lens information such as the lens type, open F value, and focal length transmitted from the lens CPU 200 when the lens is mounted. An appropriate exposure value is calculated on the basis of sensitivity information and the like. Then, the aperture value and shutter speed value corresponding to the calculated exposure value are selected, and the aperture value (aperture drive signal) is transmitted to the lens CPU 200 and the shutter speed value is transmitted to the shutter control unit 104.

As basic display control, the camera CPU 100 displays a still image, a live view image, or a moving image of the subject image captured by the imaging unit 110 on a display screen of the touch panel 105 (described later).
Further, the camera CPU 100 acquires an operation performed on the operation input unit 130 by the user and displays the content of the operation performed on the operation input unit 130 by the user on the display panel 106 or the touch panel 105.

The camera CPU 100 drives an in-lens motor 240 (described later) via the lens CPU 200 to control the lens driving amount of the focus adjustment lens group 210a (lens 210).
The camera CPU 100 transmits a lens control signal for focusing the subject image on the imaging surface of the imaging element (imaging unit 110) to the lens CPU 200. This lens control signal is a signal including control information related to the lens driving amount of the focus adjustment lens group 210a.

The camera CPU 100 executes the following control when the touch AF mode (described later) is selected in live view shooting.
When it is detected that the user touches the touch panel 105 (hereinafter also referred to as “touch down”), the camera CPU 100 calculates a lens driving amount based on the defocus amount detected at the position, and the lens driving is performed. A lens control signal corresponding to the amount is transmitted to the lens CPU 200. Thereby, the lens CPU 200 controls the focus adjustment mechanism 220 so that the subject image is focused at the position touched by the user on the touch panel 105.

  When the camera CPU 100 detects that the user releases the finger (hereinafter also referred to as “touch-up”) on the touch panel 105 after the subject image is focused by touch AF, the camera CPU 100 controls the imaging unit 110 to control the subject image. Is executed (imaging processing).

Further, when the subject image is out of focus by the touch AF, the camera CPU 100 switches to control for driving the focus adjustment mechanism 220 based on a user operation on the touch panel 105.
Examples of the case where the subject image is out of focus include a case where the contrast of the subject is low and a case where the luminance of the subject is extremely bright or dark. Under such circumstances, even if the focus of the lens 210 is adjusted by the lens driving amount calculated by the camera CPU 100, it may be out of focus.

  Therefore, the camera CPU 100 adjusts the focus adjustment mechanism 220 based on the user's operation on the touch panel 105 so that the focus can be adjusted by the user's operation when the subject image is out of focus by the focus control by the touch AF. Switch to the drive control. A specific example of control in which the camera CPU 100 drives the focus adjustment mechanism 220 based on a user operation on the touch panel 105 will be described later.

  The photometric unit 101 is a substrate circuit constituted by a CCD or CMOS image sensor. The photometry unit 101 starts photometry when an operation such as half-pressing a release button (described later) is performed, and detects information (photometry information) relating to the luminance of a subject imaged on a finder screen (not shown). The detected photometric information is transmitted to the camera CPU 100 and used for strobe light control, white balance control, etc. in addition to exposure calculation.

  The focus detection unit 102 detects a defocus amount by a phase difference detection method based on subject light incident on a phase difference detection pixel (not shown) of an AF module (not shown) or an image sensor (imaging unit 110). Specifically, the focus detection unit 102 uses a phase difference detection method to defocus an object image in a predetermined distance measurement area (not shown) arranged in the screen or a phase difference detection pixel arranged in an image sensor. Is transmitted to the camera CPU 100 as defocus information.

The shutter unit 103 is disposed on the front side in the subject direction of the imaging unit 110, and exposes subject light to the imaging element by opening and closing shutter blades (not shown).
The shutter control unit 104 is a control circuit that drives the shutter unit 103. The operation of the shutter control unit 104 is controlled by the camera CPU 100. That is, when the user depresses a release button (not shown) with a finger or the like, the shutter control unit 104 is controlled by the camera CPU 100 and the shutter unit 103 is driven. Thereby, the subject image is taken into the imaging unit 110 as a captured image.

The imaging unit 110 includes an image sensor and an image processing unit (both not shown). The image sensor of this embodiment is a so-called image plane phase difference AF sensor in which phase difference detection pixels are incorporated in the imaging surface of a CMOS sensor.
In still image shooting, live view shooting, and the like, the subject image formed by the lens 210 is received by the image sensor of the image sensor and temporarily stored in the DRAM (storage unit 120) as an analog image signal. The image processing unit performs analog and digital image processing such as noise removal, A / D conversion, color interpolation processing, size change, and encoding on the image signal stored in the DRAM, and obtains final image data. create.

  In live view shooting, a part of the subject image formed by the lens 210 is received by the phase difference detection pixel of the image sensor and transmitted to the focus detection unit 102. The focus detection unit 102 detects the defocus amount by the phase difference detection method based on the subject image received by the phase difference detection pixel of the image sensor, and transmits it to the camera CPU 100 as defocus information.

The touch panel 105 is a display input device that can acquire an operation input including a touch and a gesture by a user, and is disposed on the back surface of the camera body 10. The touch panel 105 includes a display unit 105a and a position detection unit 105b.
The display unit 105a displays shooting information (still image, moving image, live view image) and the like in addition to shooting information such as a shooting mode, an aperture value, and a shutter speed, a menu screen, and a mode setting screen.

  The position detection unit 105b detects a position where the user's finger touches the surface of the position detection unit 105b and a region when the user's finger moves (gestures) on the surface of the position detection unit 105b, and uses the camera as operation position information. It transmits to CPU100. The position detection unit 105b is disposed so as to overlap the display surface side of the display unit 105a.

  The position detection unit 105b is made of a light transmissive member. Therefore, the user can visually recognize the image displayed on the display unit 105a via the position detection unit 105b. For example, when the user touches the surface of the position detection unit 105b with his / her finger while viewing the live view image displayed on the display unit 105a, the position where the user's finger touches is the position detection unit. The detected operation position information is transmitted to the control unit 100. Based on the operation position information transmitted from the position detection unit 105b, the control unit 100 identifies which position on the display unit 105a the user has touched to focus on the subject image displayed at that position. Can be matched.

The display panel 106 is a monochrome liquid crystal panel arranged on the upper surface of the camera body 10. The display panel 106 mainly displays shooting information such as a shooting mode, an aperture value, and a shutter speed.
The display of the image data and the information screen on the touch panel 105 and the display panel 106 described above is controlled by the camera CPU 100 via a display control circuit (not shown).

The storage unit 120 includes a VRAM, an EEPROM, a DRAM, and a ROM (all not shown).
The VRAM is a memory that temporarily holds image data to be displayed on the touch panel 105, and holds captured images and the like. The EEPROM is a non-volatile memory that retains stored information even when the camera 1 is turned off, and stores input information such as user settings and custom settings. The DRAM is a volatile memory in which stored information is erased when the camera 1 is turned off. Here, in addition to the image signal image-processed by the image processing unit 112 and the final image data obtained by the image processing, data necessary for processing by the camera CPU 100 and the like are stored. The ROM stores a program (for example, an imaging program) necessary for the operation and control of the camera 1, and initial values and setting values necessary for executing the program.

  The operation input unit 130 includes dials, buttons, switches, and the like operated by the user. For example, the operation input unit 130 includes a release button, a main dial, a sub dial, a selector dial, a focus mode button (all not shown), and the like. The release button is operated when the user starts shooting. The main dial and sub dial are operated when the user inputs an exposure mode setting, an aperture value, a shutter speed, an exposure correction value, and the like. The selector dial is operated when the user performs an operation for changing the shooting conditions displayed on the touch panel 105 and the display panel 106, a menu item, an operation for changing a captured image, and the like.

  The focus mode button is operated when the user switches between auto focus and manual focus. By operating the focus mode button, the user can select a single AF mode, a continuous AF mode, a touch AF mode, or the like as the autofocus mode in addition to the manual focus mode.

The manual focus mode is a mode in which the user adjusts the focus by manually operating the focus adjustment ring of the lens barrel 20.
In the single AF mode, when the user presses the release button halfway, AF driving for focusing is started, and the focus is locked after focusing. The continuous AF mode is a mode in which AF driving is continuously performed in accordance with the movement of the subject while the user presses the release button halfway.

  The touch AF mode is a mode in which AF driving is started when the user touches down the touch panel 105 to focus on the position touched by the user's finger, and shooting is performed when the user touches up from the touch panel 105. is there. The touch AF mode is selected mainly when shooting a still image in live view shooting.

  In live view shooting, a subject image (live view image) is displayed on the touch panel 105 on the back of the camera. The user can take a still image or a moving image while viewing the live view image displayed on the touch panel 105. Live view shooting can be set by operating a live view button (not shown) of the operation input unit 130. When live view shooting is not set, the user visually recognizes the subject image via an optical viewfinder (not shown).

The memory card I / F (interface) unit 107 has a function of recording image data stored in the storage unit 120 (VRAM) in the memory card 108 and reading out image data recorded in the memory card 108. A writing / reading device. A memory card 108 corresponding to the standard is detachably attached to a memory card slot (not shown) of the memory card I / F unit 107.
The camera body 10 includes a power supply circuit unit (not shown) that supplies electric power output from a battery (not shown) according to the operating status of each unit.

Next, the configuration of the lens barrel 20 will be described. The lens barrel 20 includes a lens CPU 200, a lens 210, a focus adjustment mechanism 220, an in-lens motor driver 230, an in-lens motor 240, an aperture unit 250, and an aperture controller 260.
The lens CPU 200 is a circuit that mainly controls lens driving by the focus adjustment mechanism 220 and opening / closing of the aperture blades by the aperture unit 250, and is configured by a microprocessor.
The lens CPU 200 transmits a driver drive signal to the in-lens motor driver 230 based on the lens control signal transmitted from the camera CPU 100.

  The lens CPU 200 controls the aperture controller 260 based on the aperture value (aperture drive signal) transmitted from the camera CPU 100. The aperture controller 260 controls the aperture unit 250 according to the aperture value. The aperture unit 250 controls the opening / closing amount of aperture blades (not shown) according to the aperture value. Thereby, the aperture unit 250 forms a passage area having a size corresponding to the aperture value transmitted from the camera CPU 100. The subject light is incident on the imaging unit 110 with the amount of light being reduced in this passing region.

  In addition, when the lens barrel 20 is attached to the camera body 10, the lens CPU 200 stores the lens type, open F value, focal length, and characteristics of the in-lens motor 240 (for example, stored in an internal memory (not shown)). Lens information such as the highest rotational speed in an optimum environment) is transmitted to the camera CPU 100 of the camera body 10.

  The lens 210 is an optical member that refracts incident subject light and forms a subject image on the light receiving surface of the imaging unit 110 of the camera body 10 on the exit side. The lens 210 of the present embodiment is configured as a zoom lens whose focal length is variable by moving some lenses in the optical axis direction. Some of the lenses 210 function as a focus adjustment lens group 210a. A part of the lenses 210 functions as a focal length variable lens group 210b. FIG. 1 schematically shows these lens groups.

  The focus adjustment mechanism 220 is a mechanism that adjusts the focus of the lens 210 by moving the focus adjustment lens group 210 a in the optical axis direction of the lens 210. The focus adjustment mechanism 220 is driven by an in-lens motor 240. Note that information regarding the focus when the lens 210 moves in the optical axis direction is detected by a distance detection unit (not shown) and transmitted to the lens CPU 200.

  In the camera body 10, when the user operates the operation input unit 130 and performs an operation of switching the focus mode to manual focus, the mechanical connection between the focus adjustment lens group 210a and the focus adjustment mechanism 220 is released. Further, the focus adjustment lens group 210a and a focus adjustment ring (not shown) provided on the outer periphery of the lens barrel 20 are mechanically coupled. In the manual focus mode, the user can manually adjust the focus by manually operating the focus adjustment ring.

  The focal length variable lens group 210b moves in the optical axis direction of the lens 210 in conjunction with the movement of a zoom ring (not shown) provided in the lens barrel 20. The focal length of the lens 210 changes steplessly from the wide-angle side to the telephoto side as the focal length variable lens group 210b moves in the optical axis direction of the lens 210.

  The in-lens motor driver 230 is a drive circuit for driving the in-lens motor 240. The in-lens motor driver 230 generates a drive signal (high frequency voltage) based on the driver control signal transmitted from the lens CPU 200 and applies it to the in-lens motor 240.

  The in-lens motor 240 is a drive source that generates a rotational force for driving the lens 210. The in-lens motor 240 is constituted by, for example, an ultrasonic motor. The in-lens motor 240 takes out the rotational motion generated when the drive signal is applied from the in-lens motor driver 230 as a rotational force.

  The aperture unit 250 forms a subject light passage region by opening and closing a plurality of aperture blades (not shown) according to a predetermined aperture value. The aperture blade opening / closing operation in the aperture unit 250 is driven by the aperture controller 260.

  The lens barrel 20 and the camera body 10 are joined by a mount portion 21. The mount portion 21 includes a body side mount provided on the camera body 10 and a lens side mount (both not shown) provided on the lens barrel 20, and the camera body is configured by engaging both mounts. 10 and the lens barrel 20 can be connected. In FIG. 1, a configuration in which the body side mount and the lens side mount are coupled to each other is shown as a mount portion 21.

  In addition to the contact for communication, a power contact (not shown) is provided around each mount. The communication contact is composed of a plurality of electrical contacts provided on the body-side mount and a plurality of electrical contacts provided on the lens-side mount. When the body-side mount and the lens-side mount are engaged, both electrode contacts come into contact with each other. As a result, both electrode contacts are electrically connected to each other, and communication using an electrical signal between the camera CPU 100 and the lens CPU 200 becomes possible. Similarly, a power contact is constituted by the electrical contact provided on the body side mount and the electrical contact provided on the lens side mount. Power from a power supply circuit unit (not shown) provided in the camera body 10 is supplied to the lens barrel 20 side through the power supply contact.

  Next, a specific example of shooting in the touch AF mode will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of the touch panel 105 in the touch AF mode. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the slide bar and the focus adjustable range.

  FIG. 2A shows a live view image before the user touches down. In the touch AF mode, in the live view image before the user touches down, an in-focus area 151 is displayed at a position considered to be the main subject. The in-focus area 151 indicates an in-focus area. In FIG. 2A, a focusing area 151 is displayed on the face of a person located at the center of the screen.

  In this state, when the user wants to focus on the face of the person positioned on the left side of the screen, the user moves to the position of the face of the person positioned on the left side of the screen as shown in FIG. Touch the finger (touch down). Thereby, the focus area 152 is displayed at the position where the user touches down, and AF driving is started. When the subject image is in focus, the frame of the focus area 152 is turned on (not shown), and the user is notified that the focus has been achieved.

  On the other hand, when the subject image is out of focus, the camera CPU 100 focuses the subject image according to the defocus amount of the subject image detected in the focus area 152 (hereinafter also referred to as “detected defocus amount”). A slide bar 153 or 154 (described later) including an index indicating an adjustable range is displayed. When the user performs an operation of moving a finger along the slide bar 153 or 154, the camera CPU 100 transmits a lens control signal corresponding to the movement amount of the finger to the lens CPU 200 to adjust the focus of the subject image. That is, the slide bar 153 or 154 becomes an operation unit for the user to drive the focus adjustment mechanism 220.

When the subject image is out of focus, the camera CPU 100 determines whether or not the detected defocus amount exceeds a preset defocus amount value.
If the camera CPU 100 determines that the detected defocus amount is less than the specified value of the defocus amount, the camera CPU 100 controls the display control circuit (not shown) to display the touch panel 105 as shown in FIG. A slide bar 153 for high reliability is displayed.

  The specified value of the defocus amount is set based on the defocus amount in a state where the subject image is almost in focus. Therefore, when the detected defocus amount is less than the specified value of the defocus amount, it can be considered that the focus is almost in focus, and the slide bar 153 for high reliability is used so that the user can finely adjust the focus. Is displayed.

  On the other hand, when the camera CPU 100 determines that the detected defocus amount exceeds the specified value of the defocus amount, the camera CPU 100 controls the display control circuit (not shown) to reduce the touch panel 105 to a low level as shown in FIG. A slide bar 154 for reliability is displayed. If the detected defocus amount exceeds the specified value of the defocus amount, it can be considered that the focus is almost out of focus, so a slide bar 154 for low reliability is displayed so that the user can quickly adjust the focus. The

  When the subject image is out of focus, the camera CPU 100 moves the high-reliability slide bar 153 or the low-reliability slide bar 154 in the vicinity of the focusing area 152 without lighting the frame of the focusing area 152. To display. In the following description, the high-reliability slide bar 153 and the low-reliability slide bar 154 are collectively referred to as “slide bars”.

  The high reliability slide bar 153 includes an index with a narrow range in which the focus of the subject image can be adjusted. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, the index of the slide bar 153 for high reliability is set such that the focus adjustable range is narrower than the lens AF drive possible range. That is, the focal point movement amount is set to be smaller than the movement amount of the user's finger. Therefore, when the user moves the finger along the slide bar 153, the user can adjust the focus with a change amount smaller than the movement amount of the finger. Therefore, the user can easily finely adjust the focus. Further, since the index of the slide bar 153 for high reliability has a small interval between the slide bar patterns, the user can understand that the focus can be finely adjusted by looking at the slide bar pattern. it can.

  The low reliability slide bar 154 includes an index having a wide range in which the focus of the subject image can be adjusted. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3B, the index of the slide bar 154 for low reliability has a focus adjustable range within a slightly narrower range than the lens AF driveable range. . In other words, the focal point is set to move with a movement amount substantially the same as the movement amount of the user's finger. Therefore, when the user moves his / her finger along the slide bar 154, the user can adjust the focus with a change amount larger than the movement amount of the finger. Therefore, the user can adjust the focus quickly. Further, since the index of the slide bar 154 for low reliability has a wide interval between the slide bar patterns, the user can understand that the focus can be quickly adjusted by looking at the slide bar pattern. it can.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the slide bar is displayed when the subject image is out of focus is described. However, the slide bar may be displayed when the subject image is in focus. With this configuration, even when the subject image is focused by AF driving and the frame of the focusing area 152 is lit (not shown), the user can further use the slide bar to It becomes possible to adjust the focus.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, each slide bar is displayed in the focusing area 152 so as to overlap the frame on the upper side of the screen. Therefore, the user can adjust the focus of the subject image by moving the finger left and right along the slide bar while keeping the finger touched down. As will be described later, the slide bar may be displayed in a vertical position with respect to the touch panel 105 in accordance with the position where the focusing area 152 is displayed on the touch panel 105.

  In FIG. 3, the mark drawn at the center of the line indicating the adjustable focus range indicates the focal position at that time. Therefore, for example, in FIG. 2C, the user can adjust the focal point to the infinity side (depth side) by moving the finger to the left from the center position of the slide bar 153. Further, the user can adjust the focus to the near side (near side) by moving the finger to the right side from the center position of the slide bar 153.

  Further, the camera CPU 100 displays the sub image 155 at a position apart from the focusing area 152 together with the slide bar. The sub image 155 is an image for confirming the focus state of the subject image, and is an image obtained by enlarging the subject image displayed in the focusing area 152 (or an equivalent size). As the sub image 155, a corresponding image is displayed within the frame of the focusing area 152. When the user moves his / her finger along the slide bar, the change of the focus state can be confirmed by the sub-image 155.

  Next, the operation of the camera CPU 100 in the touch AF mode will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the camera CPU 100 in the touch AF mode. The process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is executed by the camera CPU 100 based on the imaging program stored in the storage unit 120 (see FIG. 1). Further, the processing of this flowchart is started simultaneously with the live view shooting after the touch AF mode is selected.

In step S <b> 1 shown in FIG. 4, the camera CPU 100 starts live view shooting and controls the focus and exposure of the live view image displayed on the touch panel 105.
In step S <b> 2, the camera CPU 100 determines whether a touchdown is detected on the touch panel 105. If the determination of camera CPU 100 is YES in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3. If the determination by the camera CPU 100 is NO in step S2, the process returns to step S1.

In step S <b> 3, the camera CPU 100 starts AF driving for the subject image displayed at the position (touch position) where the touchdown is detected on the touch panel 105.
In step S4, the camera CPU 100 determines whether or not the subject image is in focus. If the determination of camera CPU 100 is YES in step S4, the process proceeds to step S5. If the determination by the camera CPU 100 is NO in step S4, the process proceeds to step S6.

  In step S <b> 5, the camera CPU 100 determines whether touch-up is detected on the touch panel 105. If the determination of camera CPU 100 is YES in step S5, the process proceeds to step S10. If the determination by the camera CPU 100 is NO in step S5, the process returns to step S5.

  Note that the process of step S4 can be omitted. That is, in step S3, after AF driving is performed on the subject image displayed at the touch position, the process proceeds to step S6 regardless of whether or not the subject image is in focus. Further, when the process of step S4 is omitted, the process of step S5 is also omitted.

  In step S6, the camera CPU 100 determines whether or not the detected defocus amount of the subject image exceeds a specified value of the defocus amount. If the determination of camera CPU 100 is YES in step S6, the process proceeds to step S7. If the determination by the camera CPU 100 is NO in step S6, the process proceeds to step S13.

  In step S <b> 7, the camera CPU 100 causes the touch panel 105 to display a low reliability slide bar. On the other hand, in step S13 (step S6: NO), the camera CPU 100 displays a slide bar for high reliability on the touch panel 105.

  Note that the process of step S6 can be omitted. That is, in step S4, when the determination of the camera CPU 100 is NO, the camera CPU 100 displays a slide bar on the touch panel 105 regardless of the detected defocus amount or without detecting the defocus amount. In this case, step S7 or step S13 is integrated into the same process of displaying a slide bar.

  In step S <b> 8, the camera CPU 100 adjusts the focus of the subject image by transmitting a lens control signal corresponding to a user operation (finger movement) to the slide bar to the lens CPU 200. When the low-reliability slide bar is displayed, the camera CPU 100 sets the lens control signal so that the focal point moves more than the movement amount of the user's finger (for example, 1.5 times). In addition, when the high-reliability slide bar is displayed, the camera CPU 100 sets the lens control signal so that the focal point moves less than the movement amount of the user's finger (for example, 0.2 times). .

  In step S <b> 9, the camera CPU 100 determines whether touch-up is detected on the touch panel 105. If the determination by camera CPU 100 is YES in step S9, the process proceeds to step S10. If the determination by the camera CPU 100 is NO in step S9, the process returns to step S8.

In step S10, the camera CPU 100 controls the imaging unit 110 and the like to execute an imaging process.
In step S11, the camera CPU 100 creates digital image data based on the captured subject image (image processing).
In step S12, the camera CPU 100 compresses the digital image data and stores it in the memory card 108 as an image file. Thereafter, the camera CPU 100 ends the process of this flowchart.

The camera 1 according to the above-described embodiment has the following effects.
(1) In the camera 1, the camera CPU 100 switches the control to drive the focus adjustment mechanism 220 based on the user's operation on the touch panel 105 after the control for focusing the subject image by the touch AF is performed. Therefore, after the focus is controlled by touch AF, a user who wishes to adjust the focus by manual operation does not perform the operation of switching the focus mode to the manual focus mode or the like and operates the touch panel to perform the focus. Can be adjusted quickly.

(2) In the camera 1, the camera CPU 100 switches the control to drive the focus adjustment mechanism 220 based on the user's operation on the touch panel 105 when the subject image is out of focus by the focus control by the touch AF. Therefore, when the subject image is focused by the focus control by the touch AF, a user who does not want to adjust the focus can quickly execute the imaging process by performing a touch-up operation. In addition, when the subject image is out of focus by the focus control by touch AF, a user who desires focus adjustment can quickly adjust the focus by operating the touch panel.

(3) In the camera 1, the camera CPU 100 includes a slide bar that includes an index indicating a range in which the focus of the subject image can be adjusted when switching to the control for driving the focus adjustment mechanism 220 based on a user operation on the touch panel 105. Is displayed on the touch panel 105. Therefore, the user can easily understand the range in which the focus can be adjusted.

(4) In the camera 1, when the subject image is out of focus by the focus control by the touch AF, the camera CPU 100 has a range in which the focus of the subject image can be adjusted based on the defocus amount of the subject image. A slide bar including different indexes is displayed on the touch panel 105. Therefore, the user can perform an operation suitable for the defocus amount of the subject image when adjusting the focus of the subject image.

(5) In the camera 1, when the detected defocus amount of the subject image is less than the prescribed value of the defocus amount, the camera CPU 100 uses a narrow index indicating a range in which the focus of the subject image can be adjusted. The slide bar 153 is displayed. Therefore, the user can easily finely adjust the focus when the defocus amount of the subject image is small. In addition, when the detected defocus amount of the subject image exceeds a specified value of the defocus amount, the camera CPU 100 displays a low-reliability slide bar 154 having a wide index indicating a range in which the focus of the subject image can be adjusted. Let Therefore, the user can quickly adjust the focus when the defocus amount of the subject image is large.

(6) In the camera 1, the camera CPU 100 displays the slide bar in the horizontal position or the vertical position with respect to the touch panel 105 in accordance with the position where the focusing area 152 is displayed on the touch panel 105. For example, when the focusing area 152 is displayed at the end of the touch panel 105, the camera CPU 100 displays the slide bar in the vertical position. According to this, since the slide bar of the original size can be displayed without reducing the size of the bar, the user can appropriately recognize the adjustable range of the focus.

(7) In the camera 1, the camera CPU 100 displays the sub image 155 on the touch panel 105. According to this, when the user moves his / her finger along the slide bar, the sub-image 155 can confirm the change in the focus state. Therefore, the user can adjust the focus of the focusing area 152 more accurately.

(Deformation)
Without being limited to the embodiment described above, the present invention can be variously modified and changed as shown below, and these are also within the scope of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the example in which the slide bar is displayed in the vicinity of the focusing area 152 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the slide bar may be displayed at a position away from the focusing area 152. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another display example of the slide bar. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the focusing area 152 is displayed at the end of the touch panel 105, for example, a high reliability slide bar 153 is displayed at the upper center of the touch panel 105. In this case, the user moves the finger to the position of the slide bar 153 while touching the touch panel 105. Then, the focal point can be adjusted by moving the finger left and right at the moved position.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the focus area 152 is displayed at the end of the touch panel 105, for example, a low reliability slide bar 154 is displayed at the vertical position on the left end of the touch panel 105. In this case, the user can adjust the focus by moving the finger in the vertical direction with respect to the touch panel 105. Note that it is desirable that the user can arbitrarily set whether to display the slide bar in the horizontal position or the vertical position in accordance with the position where the focusing area 152 is displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the slide bar has been described as an example of the operation unit including the index indicating the range in which the focus of the subject image can be adjusted. However, the operation unit is not limited to this, and the user rotates the finger clockwise or counterclockwise along the circle It may be a circular operation unit that is moved to the position. Further, when the user performs a gesture for moving the finger touched on the surface of the touch panel 105 without displaying an operation unit such as a slide bar on the touch panel 105, the focus is set according to the moving direction and the moving amount of the finger. You may make it adjust.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which one of two types of slide bars is displayed depending on whether or not the detected defocus amount exceeds the specified value of the defocus amount has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of specified defocus amount values may be set and a slide bar corresponding to each specified value may be displayed. Further, the specified value of the defocus amount may be changed according to the brightness of the subject image, the shooting conditions, and the like.

  In this embodiment, the user can recognize that the type of the slide bar is different by changing the interval between the patterns of the slide bar. The present invention is not limited to this, and the same slide bar may be displayed regardless of the amount of focus. Also, the slide bar may be color-coded or displayed in a different pattern for each slide bar.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which an image corresponding to the frame of the in-focus area 152 is displayed on the touch panel 105 as the sub image 155 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and an image corresponding to the frame of the in-focus area 152 may be displayed on the touch panel 105 in full screen.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the imaging apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a lens interchangeable digital single-lens reflex camera has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the imaging apparatus according to the present invention can also be applied to an interchangeable lens digital camera, a lens-integrated digital camera, a camera built in a portable electronic device, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the example in which the defocus amount of the subject image is detected by the phase difference detection method has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to a method of detecting the focus state of a subject image using a contrast detection method.
Moreover, although the said embodiment and modification can be used in combination suitably, since the structure of the embodiment is clear by illustration and description, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited by the embodiment described above.

  1: camera, 10: body, 100: camera CPU, 105: touch panel, 105a: display unit, 105b: position detection unit, 110: imaging unit, 153, 154: slide bar, 155: sub-image

Claims (10)

An imaging unit for imaging a subject image formed by an imaging optical system including a focus adjustment mechanism;
A touch panel including a display unit and a position detection unit that detects a user operation on the display unit;
A focus control unit that controls the focus adjustment mechanism so that the subject image is focused at a position where the position detection unit detects a user operation;
A focus control unit that drives the focus adjustment mechanism based on a user operation on the touch panel;
After the focus adjustment mechanism is controlled by the focus control unit, a control unit that switches to focus control by the focus control unit;
An imaging apparatus comprising: The imaging device according to claim 1,
When the control unit switches to focus control by the focus control unit, the control unit displays an operation unit for driving the focus adjustment mechanism on the display unit of the touch panel. The imaging device according to claim 2,
The control unit is an imaging apparatus that switches to focus control by the focus control unit when the subject image is out of focus in the control of the focus control unit. In the imaging device according to claim 2 or 3,
The imaging device includes an indicator that indicates a range in which a focus of the subject image can be adjusted. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4,
After the focus adjustment mechanism is controlled by the focus control unit, the control unit displays different indicators of different ranges in which the focus of the subject image can be adjusted based on the defocus amount of the subject image. An imaging device to be displayed on the display unit. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5,
When the defocus amount is less than a predetermined value, the control unit causes the display unit of the touch panel to display an index having a narrow range in which the focus of the subject image can be adjusted, and the defocus amount reaches the predetermined value. When exceeding, the imaging device which displays on the display unit of the touch panel an indicator with a wide range in which the focus of the subject image can be adjusted. In the imaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 6,
The operation unit is a slide bar,
The said control part is an imaging device which displays the said slide bar in the horizontal position or the vertical position with respect to the said display part of a touch panel based on the position where the said position detection part of the said touch panel detected the user's operation. In the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The said control part is an imaging device which displays the sub image which confirms the focus state of the said to-be-photographed image on the said display part of the said touch panel. The imaging device according to claim 8,
The sub-image is an imaging apparatus that is an enlarged image of the subject image at a position where the position detection unit detects a user operation. Imaging of an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by a photographing optical system including a focus adjustment mechanism, and a touch panel that includes a display unit and a position detection unit that detects a user operation on the display unit. A program,
Computer
Focusing control means for controlling the focus adjustment mechanism so that the subject image is focused at a position where the position detecting unit detects a user operation;
Focus control means for driving the focus adjustment mechanism based on a user operation on the touch panel;
Control means for switching to focus control by the focus control means after the focus control mechanism is controlled by the focus control means;
An imaging program that functions as

Images