JP2016092785A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus which enables the confirmation and selection of a focusing range by a depth of field, not requiring repeated operation, without requiring means for detecting a subject distance.SOLUTION: In the imaging apparatus including adjustment means, extraction means, generation means, memory means, display means, selection means, and operation means, by an operation instruction, the aperture value of a lens is variable in a predetermined range and a peaking display image is generated and stored. The peaking display image is synthesized and both of a video captured by an imaging element and the peaking display image are displayed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1(A)

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera.

  Conventionally, in digital cameras that can shoot with different lens apertures, the user has set the lens aperture value to achieve the desired depth of field for the effect of shooting. In other cases, the lens is controlled to be open so as to form an image brighter on the image sensor in order to acquire the AF evaluation value and confirm the subject by the user.

  In order to check the depth of field, the user presses a narrowing down button for controlling the user-set F value while changing the F value setting of the lens to change the depth of field to be shot, and a desired lens F value. Was set. Further, as the determination of focus, the focus range is determined by peaking display in which edge components of the captured image are extracted and displayed.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228561 discloses a means for acquiring a subject distance and displaying a distance image in which the subject color is changed according to the subject distance. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a means for extracting and displaying an image captured by an image sensor and an edge component representing the degree of focus.

JP 2008-145263 A JP 2012-73466 A

  However, in the prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, means for detecting the subject distance is required, which increases the cost and size of the photographing apparatus. Also in the peaking display for displaying the edge component, the user has to repeatedly check the lens aperture so that the desired depth of field is obtained.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that enables confirmation and selection of a focusing range based on a depth of field that does not require repeated operations without requiring a means for detecting a subject distance. It is in.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention extracts adjusting means for adjusting the focus and diaphragm of a lens that forms a subject image on an image sensor, and an edge component representing the degree of focus imaged by the image sensor. And generating means for generating a peaking display image representing a relationship between the edge component extracted by the extraction means being equal to or higher than a predetermined level, memory means for storing the peaking display image, and imaging by the imaging device Display means for displaying both the image to be displayed and the peaking display image, a selection means for selecting the aperture value of the lens, and a focus range based on the depth of field based on the aperture value of the lens In accordance with the operation instruction, the lens aperture value is varied within a predetermined range and a peaking display image is generated and stored. The stored, and displaying together with video and the peaking display image captured by the imaging device by combining the peaking display image.

  According to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, the peaking information in the open to minimum aperture of the mounted lens is stored in one operation, and the peaking information stored in the LCD touch panel is synthesized and displayed, so that the user can The in-focus range depending on the depth of field can be easily confirmed.

  In addition, by touching the F-number selection button corresponding to the diaphragm on the touch panel, it is possible to easily set a focusing range based on a desired depth of field without repeatedly checking the depth of field of each diaphragm. A camera that can be provided can be provided.

Conceptual display diagram of peaking information corresponding to lens F value in the embodiment of the present invention Conceptual display diagram of peaking information corresponding to lens F value in the embodiment of the present invention Conceptual display diagram of peaking information corresponding to lens F value in the embodiment of the present invention 1 is a block diagram of an image recording / reproducing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart of the system controller which shows the Example of this invention Functional setting menu conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention

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

  FIG. 2 is a drawing of an image recording / reproducing apparatus that best represents the characteristics of the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, C1 is an image pickup unit, C2 is a lens diaphragm drive control circuit of the image pickup unit, and B4 is picked up by C1. B5 is a peaking display information processing circuit, M1 is a peaking information holding memory corresponding to the lens F value, M2 is a combined information memory of peaking information at each F value, and B1 is a recording / reproducing A recording / reproduction data processing circuit B2 which performs recording data processing and reproduction data processing on a possible memory card (M3), B2 is a system controller microcomputer for controlling the operation of each circuit and controlling the user interface.

  B3 is a memory card controller, V1 is a captured image or playback image, LCD touch panel for displaying / detecting setting buttons for device settings and menu items, SW1 is a shutter button for shooting, and SW2 is a lens aperture that is changed to a user-set aperture A narrowing-down button for switching, SW3 is a menu display button for performing various settings in the menu, and SW4 is a playback switch for playing back the recorded scene.

  In this figure, as a sequence at the time of shooting, an image picked up by the image pickup unit is imaged from a lens onto a CMOS sensor as an image recording / reproducing device and is read at a predetermined reading timing in an image pickup signal processing circuit. Read from CMOS sensor. The read data is subjected to image correction processing such as AWB / γ correction in the image pickup signal processing circuit, converted into image data, input to the recording / playback data processing circuit, recorded on a memory card, and an LCD as a photographic image monitor Image data is displayed on the touch panel.

[Example 1]
Hereinafter, a recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the system controller microcomputer for controlling the image recording / reproducing apparatus embodying the present invention. The sequence of the depth of field selection mode in the image recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 2 will be described according to this flowchart.

  [S1] In this step, it is determined whether or not the narrow-down button is operated. If the narrow-down button is operated, the process branches to S2 and the process proceeds.

  [S2] When the narrow-down button needs to be operated, the operation mode of the narrow-down button set in the setting menu in advance is checked.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the setting menu can be used to select an operation for a narrow-down button, an operation for various functions, or the like. Item selection and function selection are performed by touch panel operation, and setting contents are stored. When the aperture button is operated, the function setting item is the depth-of-field confirmation mode in which the lens aperture is changed to the aperture set by the user (Fig. 4: aperture operation), and the aperture in the variable range of the lens aperture. The depth of field simulation mode (FIG. 4: depth SIM) in which peaking information is acquired and displayed can be set. If the narrow-down button setting is the depth-of-field confirmation mode, the process branches to S13, and if it is the depth-of-field simulation mode, the process branches to S3.

  [S3] In the operation flow of the depth of field simulation mode, the peaking information holding memory (M1) corresponding to the lens F value is initialized, and the process proceeds to S4.

  [S4] A value between the open aperture value and the minimum aperture value of the mounted lens is acquired, and the process proceeds to S5.

  [S5] In the depth-of-field simulation mode, in order to obtain and display peaking information from the maximum aperture value of the lens to the minimum aperture, after setting the lens aperture to open, in steps [S6] to [S8] Edge components representing the degree of focus captured by the image sensor are extracted, filtered at a predetermined level or higher, converted to an image superimposition data format, and assigned to each display layer (Figures 1-1 to 1-3). The operation to be stored is executed while sequentially changing the aperture.

  In this embodiment, the lens aperture is set to F2.8 at the full aperture and F8 at the minimum aperture. After obtaining the minimum aperture peaking information, the process proceeds to S9. When obtaining peaking information, sensor characteristic adjustment, ISO sensitivity, and the like are automatically controlled to easily extract an edge component representing the degree of focus.

  [S9] In this step, image synthesis of the stored peaking display information is performed. Change the display color of the layers up to the minimum aperture so that the open aperture display layer is in front (Fig. 1-6).

  [S10] to [S12] The lens aperture is set to open, and the peaking information synthesized in S9 is superimposed on the captured image of Fig. 1-1 on the LCD touch panel and the F value as shown in Fig. 1-7 By placing the selection buttons on the touch panel in a color corresponding to the aperture, and placing the peaking information and buttons at each aperture as shown in Fig. 1-8, the user can view the field at each lens aperture. The depth can be easily confirmed.

  Further, by touching the F-number selection button corresponding to the diaphragm on the touch panel, a desired depth of field can be easily set without repeatedly checking the depth of field of each diaphragm.

  [S13] to [S14] In this step, while the aperture button is pressed, the lens aperture is controlled by the F value set by the user, and the depth of field can be confirmed.

C1 imaging device, C2 lens aperture drive control circuit, B1 recording / reproduction data processing circuit,
B2 system controller, B3 memory card controller,
A captured image processing circuit for processing a B4 video signal, a B5 peaking information processing circuit,
V1 LCD touch panel, M1 peaking information holding memory,
M2 peaking information synthesis memory, M3 memory card,
SW1 to SW4 operation switch

Claims (5)

Adjustment means (C2) for adjusting the focus and aperture of the lens (C1) that forms the subject image on the image sensor (B4);
Extraction means (B5) for extracting an edge component representing the degree of focus imaged by the image sensor;
Generating means (B5) for generating a peaking display image representing a relationship between the edge component extracted by the extracting means and a predetermined level or more;
Memory means (M1) for storing the peaking display image;
Display means (V1) for displaying the image picked up by the image pickup device and the peaking display image together,
Selection means (SW3) for selecting the aperture value of the lens,
Operation means (SW2) for confirming the in-focus range by the depth of field by the aperture value of the lens,
In an imaging apparatus having
In response to the operation instruction, the aperture value of the lens is varied within a predetermined range, and a peaking display image is generated and stored, and the stored image of the peaking display image is combined with the image picked up by the image sensor and the peaking display image And an image pickup apparatus characterized by displaying together. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined range of the lens aperture value is a range of an open aperture to a minimum aperture. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peaking display image is synthesized by changing a display color for each aperture value, and is synthesized so that a peaking display image with an open aperture is at the front during synthesis. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a selection button for selecting a lens aperture value is displayed on the touch panel (V1) so as to correspond to a peaking display color for each aperture value. The operation means (SW2) for confirming the in-focus range based on the depth of field based on the lens aperture value is an on / off button, and the lens aperture of the user set value between the time when the button is turned on and off. It is possible to select a narrowing mode for checking by changing the value and a mode for changing the lens aperture value within a predetermined range, generating a peaking display image, storing it, and compositing it by operating the button. The imaging device according to claim 1.