JP2016092798A - Imaging apparatus and control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for achieving reminder to a user when shutter chance is missed without being aware of battery run-out or when a failed photograph is possibly caused and easily viewed finder display.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus capable of acquiring a battery residual capacity includes: a finder; a plurality of segments displayed in the finder; display means for displaying the plurality of segments; setting means for setting whether the plurality of segments are to be displayed or not; determining means for determining whether the segments are to be displayed or not when the segments are set to be not displayed as the result of the setting means; and control means for controlling the display means so that the segments are displayed from the result of the determining means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as an electronic still camera, and more particularly to a method for controlling an imaging apparatus that performs liquid crystal display.

  In a single-lens reflex camera, which is generally styled to shoot through the viewfinder, it has been desired that the camera settings and status can be confirmed in the viewfinder. An increasing number of products have made it possible to check the status in the viewfinder. Some products allow users to select items to display and display only those items. This makes it possible to make the camera correspond to the variety of users, and makes it possible to make the subject easier to see without displaying anything on the viewfinder.

  Further, as a method for causing the user to select a display method, a method as in Patent Document 1 is proposed in which a plurality of display modes are selected and display is performed according to the selected display mode.

JP 2005-348196 A

  However, even if the user has set not to display among the items to be displayed in the viewfinder, it may be better to display if there is a possibility that the user suffers a disadvantage. If the display is not performed even in such a case, there is a problem of missing a photo opportunity or increasing the number of failed photos.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of performing easy-to-see finder display while grasping the risk of a failed photo when the remaining battery level is low.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an imaging device capable of acquiring a remaining battery capacity, a finder, a plurality of segments to be displayed in the finder, a display unit for displaying the plurality of segments, and the plurality of segments. A setting means for setting whether or not to display the segment, a determination means for determining whether to display even when the setting means is set to not display, and the segment is determined from the result of the determination means. And control means for controlling the display means to display.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus capable of performing viewfinder display that is easy to see while grasping the risk of a failed photo when the remaining battery level is low.

1 is a configuration block diagram of an imaging apparatus as a first embodiment of the present invention. (A), (b) is an external view of the imaging device as 1st, 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a basic flowchart at the time of performing icon display in a finder. It is a flowchart at the time of performing a battery remaining amount icon display in a finder. It is a flowchart at the time of performing icon display after photometry in a finder. It is an image figure of a GUI screen at the time of setting to display all icons in the viewfinder. It is an image figure in a finder at the time of setting like FIG. 6 (a). It is an image figure of a GUI screen at the time of setting so that a part of icon may be displayed in a finder. It is an image figure in a finder at the time of setting as shown to Fig.7 (a). It is an image figure in a finder when a battery remaining amount icon is displayed. When the exposure value is displayed. It is an image figure in a finder. It is an image figure in a finder when a histogram is displayed.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an imaging apparatus 200 as an embodiment of the present invention. The lens unit 100 is a lens unit on which an interchangeable photographic lens is mounted. The lens 5 is usually composed of a plurality of lenses, but here, only a single lens is shown for simplicity. The communication terminal 6 is a communication terminal for the lens to communicate with the imaging device side, and the communication terminal 10 is a communication terminal for the imaging device to communicate with the lens side.

  The lens unit 100 communicates with the microcomputer 40 via the communication terminals 6, 10, controls the aperture 1 via the aperture drive circuit 2 by the internal lens system control circuit 4, and passes through the AF drive circuit 3. The focus is adjusted by displacing the position of the lens 5. Further, the microcomputer 40 acquires the open aperture value and the minimum aperture value of the lens unit 100 via the communication terminals 6 and 10.

  The AE sensor 15 measures the luminance of the subject that has passed through the lens unit 100. The AF sensor 11 outputs defocus amount information to the microcomputer 40. The microcomputer 40 controls the lens unit 100 based on that. The quick return mirror 12 is instructed by the microcomputer 40 at the time of exposure, and is raised and lowered by an actuator (not shown).

  The photographer can confirm the focus and composition of the optical image of the subject obtained through the lens unit 100 by observing the focusing screen 13 via the pentaprism 14 and the finder 16.

  The focal plane shutter 17 is a focal plane shutter that can freely control the exposure time of the image sensor 20 under the control of the microcomputer 40. The optical filter 18 is generally composed of a low-pass filter or the like, and cuts high-frequency components of light entering from the focal plane shutter 17 and guides the subject image to the image sensor 20.

  The image pickup device 20 is an image pickup device in which a CCD, a CMOS, or the like is generally used, and a subject image formed on the image pickup device 20 through the lens unit 100 is photoelectrically converted and captured as an electric signal. The AMP circuit 21 amplifies the photographic signal with a gain corresponding to the set photographic sensitivity with respect to the captured electric signal. The A / D conversion circuit 22 converts the analog signal converted into an electric signal by the image sensor 20 into a digital signal.

  The image processing circuit 23 performs filter processing, color conversion processing, and gamma / knee processing on the image data converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 22 and outputs the result to the memory controller 27. The image processing circuit 23 also includes a D / A conversion circuit. The image processing circuit 23 converts the image data converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 22 and the image data input by the memory controller 27 into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal to the liquid crystal display unit 25 through the liquid crystal driving circuit 24. You can also

  Image processing and display processing by these image processing circuits 23 are switched by the microcomputer 40. Further, the microcomputer 40 performs white balance adjustment based on the color balance information of the photographed image.

  The liquid crystal display unit 25 is a rear monitor for displaying an image. The display is not limited to a liquid crystal display as long as it displays an image, and may be a display of another system such as an organic EL.

  The memory controller 27 stores unprocessed image data input from the image processing circuit 23 in the buffer memory 26 or stores image processed image data in the recording medium 28. Conversely, image data is fetched from the buffer memory 26 or the recording medium 28 and output to the image processing circuit 23. The memory controller 27 stores the image data sent via the external interface 29 in the recording medium 28, and conversely outputs the image data stored in the recording medium 28 to the outside via the external interface 29. It is also possible to do.

  Examples of the external interface include interfaces such as USB, IEEE, and HDMI (registered trademark). The recording medium 28 is a removable recording medium such as a memory card. However, it may be a built-in memory. The microcomputer 40 controls the drive timing of the image sensor 20 via the timing control circuit 32.

  The power supply control circuit 35 is a circuit that controls the power supplied from the AC power supply unit 30 or the secondary battery unit 31. In response to an instruction from the microcomputer 40, the power supply control circuit 35 turns on and off the power supply. The power supply control circuit 35 also notifies the microcomputer 40 of information on the current power supply state detected by the power supply state detection circuit 34 and information on the current power supply type detected by the power supply type detection circuit 33.

  The microcomputer 40 controls the focal plane shutter 17 via the shutter control circuit 36. The optical filter vibration control circuit 37 is a circuit that vibrates the piezoelectric element 19 connected to the optical filter 18. It vibrates according to the instruction of the microcomputer 40 so that the piezoelectric element is vibrated with predetermined values for the vibration amplitude, vibration time, and vibration axial direction.

  The non-volatile memory 38 is a non-volatile recording medium that stores user-set values such as shutter speed, aperture value, and shooting sensitivity, as well as various other data, even when the imaging device is not turned on. can do. The volatile memory 39 stores data that is desired to be temporarily stored, such as the internal state of the imaging apparatus and information on the removable recording medium 28.

  Reference numeral 41 denotes an in-finder liquid crystal display unit, which displays a frame indicating a focus point currently being auto-focused, a crop mask display, a crop frame, a grid line, and the like via the in-finder liquid crystal driving circuit 42. Reference numeral 43 denotes an outside viewfinder liquid crystal display unit that displays various setting values of the camera such as a shutter speed and an aperture through an outside viewfinder liquid crystal driving circuit 44.

  The operation unit 70 is various operation members as an input unit that receives an operation from a user. The operation unit 70 includes at least the following operation units. Release button 201, main electronic dial 202, sub electronic dial 203, power switch 204, protect button 205, menu button 206, delete button 207, enlargement mode button 208, playback instruction button 209, single / multi switching button 210, multi controller 211 .

  The microcomputer 40 is a control unit that controls each unit included in the imaging apparatus 200. The microcomputer 40 executes various processes described later by expanding and executing the program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 38 using the volatile memory 39 as a work memory.

  2A is a diagram illustrating an appearance shape from the front surface of the entire imaging apparatus 200, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an appearance shape from the back surface of the entire imaging device 200. (C) is the figure which showed the icon group displayed on the liquid crystal display part outside a finder. Portions common to FIG. 1 are denoted by the same symbols.

  The release button 201 is a button for issuing a shooting preparation instruction and a shooting instruction. By pressing the button halfway, the brightness of the subject is measured or focused. Further, when the button is fully pressed, the shutter is released and an image is taken. At this time, if the setting by the user is set to perform time-lapse shooting, full-pressing of the button functions as a time-lapse start button simultaneously with image shooting.

  The main electronic dial 202 is a rotation operation member, and the user rotates the main electronic dial 202 to set setting values such as a shutter speed and an aperture, and to finely adjust the enlargement magnification in the enlargement mode.

  The sub electronic dial 203 is a rotation operation member, and the user turns the sub electronic dial 203 to set setting values such as aperture and exposure correction, or to perform an operation of feeding one image in an image display state. Do.

  A power switch 204 is an operation member for turning the power on and off. The protect button 205 is a button for performing processing such as protection and rating on an image stored in a recording medium inside and outside the imaging apparatus.

  The menu button 206 is a button for displaying various setting screens on the liquid crystal display unit 25. A delete button 207 is a button for instructing deletion of an image stored in a recording medium inside or outside the imaging apparatus. The enlargement mode button 208 is a button that accepts an operation for issuing an instruction to transition to the enlargement mode (instruction to start the enlargement mode) and an instruction to exit from the enlargement mode (instruction to end the enlargement mode) in the playback state.

  The reproduction instruction button 209 is a button for causing the liquid crystal display unit 25 to display an image stored in a recording medium inside and outside the imaging apparatus. The distance measuring point selection button 210 is a button for entering a mode for selecting a distance measuring point that is a start point of autofocus. The multi-controller 211 can be operated in a plurality of directions for setting a distance measuring point that is a start point of autofocus or moving an enlarged frame (enlarged range) in an enlarged image display state. It is an operation member.

  Hereinafter, a method for displaying an icon in the viewfinder according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, in step S100, it is determined whether or not the main Sw 204 is in the switch On state. If it is in the switch On state, the process proceeds to step S101, and if it is not in the switch On state, the process ends.

  In step S <b> 101, the in-finder setting registration value stored in the nonvolatile memory 38 is acquired. The setting registration value in the finder is set by the user in the GUI image diagram shown in FIG.

  In step S102, the in-finder liquid crystal display unit 41 is displayed via the in-finder liquid crystal drive circuit 42 so that the icon registered to be displayed is displayed in the finder according to the in-finder setting registration value acquired in step S101. Is displayed. At this time, if it is set as shown in FIG. 6 (a), it is displayed on the in-finder liquid crystal display unit 41 as shown in FIG. 6 (b). Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, when it is set not to display a specific icon, it is displayed on the in-finder liquid crystal display unit 41 as shown in FIG. 7B.

  In step S103, the icon group turned off in step S102 is turned on only when it is necessary to turn it on. The processing will be described in detail later.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8 (a), a display method in the case of turning on a specific icon even if the user is set to turn off will be described.

  First, in step S200, it is determined whether or not the battery icon is set to be turned off as a result of the registration value in the viewfinder acquired in step S101. If not, the process proceeds to step S204.

  In step S <b> 201, the current remaining battery level is acquired from the microcomputer 40 via the power supply state detection circuit 34.

  In step S202, it is determined whether or not the remaining battery level acquired in step S201 is below a threshold value. If it is lower, the process proceeds to step S203, and if not lower, the process proceeds to step S204.

  In step S203, a battery icon is displayed from the microcomputer 40 via the in-finder liquid crystal driving circuit 42. At this time, even if the battery icon is set to be turned off, it is displayed on the in-finder liquid crystal display unit 41 as shown in FIG.

  In step S204, display processing is performed for icons that are set to be turned off, particularly for icons that require photometry. The processing will be described in detail later.

  Next, referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 7, FIG. 8 (b), and FIG. 8 (c), it relates to an icon that requires photometry among display methods in the case of turning on even if it is set to be turned off. A display method will be described.

  First, in step S300, it is determined whether or not the metering start button has been pressed, that is, whether or not the release button 210 has been pressed halfway. If it has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S301, and if not, the process ends.

  In step S301, subject brightness is acquired. In step S302, it is determined whether or not the histogram information is set to be turned off as a result of the registration value in the viewfinder acquired in step S101. If the setting is to turn off, the process proceeds to step S303, and the setting is made to turn off. If not, the process proceeds to step S306.

  In step S303, based on the subject brightness acquired in step S301 and the current set value, it is determined whether or not the number of dark component pixels is below the threshold value. If it is below, the process proceeds to step S305. The process proceeds to S304.

  In step S304, based on the subject brightness acquired in step S301 and the current set value, it is determined whether or not the number of pixels of the bright component exceeds the threshold. If it exceeds, the process proceeds to step S305. The process proceeds to S306.

  In step S305, histogram information is displayed from the microcomputer 40 via the in-finder liquid crystal driving circuit 42. At this time, even if the histogram information is set to be turned off, it is displayed on the in-finder liquid crystal display unit 41 as shown in FIG.

  In step S306, it is determined whether or not the exposure information is set to be extinguished as a result of the registration value in the viewfinder acquired in step S101. If the setting is to extinguish, the process proceeds to step S307, and the setting is made to extinguish. If not, exit.

  In step S307, it is determined based on the subject brightness acquired in step S301 and the current set value whether or not a photograph can be taken with proper exposure. If you can take a photo, finish.

  In step S308, exposure information is displayed by the microcomputer 40 via the in-finder liquid crystal driving circuit 42. At this time, even if the exposure information is set to be turned off, it is displayed on the in-finder liquid crystal display unit 41 as shown in FIG.

  By controlling as described above, even if the user is set not to display information in the viewfinder, the camera may become inoperable due to insufficient battery power, or there may be a failure photo In some cases, it becomes possible for the user to notice in advance during shooting, and it is possible to achieve both the alerting to the user and the finder display desired by the user.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

1 aperture, 2 aperture drive circuit, 3 AF drive circuit, 4 lens system control circuit,
5 lens, 6 lens side communication unit, 10 camera side communication unit, 11 AF sensor,
12 mirror, 13 focusing screen, 14 penta prism,
15 AE sensor, 16 eyepiece unit,
17 focal plane shutter, 18 optical filter, 19 piezoelectric element,
20 image sensor, 21 AMP circuit, 22 A / D conversion circuit, 23 image processing circuit,
24 liquid crystal drive circuit, 25 liquid crystal display unit, 26 buffer memory,
27 memory controller, 28 external memory, 29 interface,
30 AC power supply unit, 31 secondary battery unit, 32 timing control circuit,
33 power supply type detection circuit, 34 power supply state detection circuit, 35 power supply control circuit,
36 shutter control circuit, 37 optical filter vibration control circuit,
38 non-volatile memory, 39 volatile memory, 40 microcomputer,
41 LCD in the viewfinder, 42 LCD drive circuit in the viewfinder,
43 LCD outside the viewfinder, 44 LCD outside the viewfinder, 70 Operating section

Claims (9)

In an imaging device that can acquire the remaining battery capacity,
The viewfinder (16),
A plurality of segments (41) to be displayed in the viewfinder;
Display means (43) for displaying the plurality of segments;
Setting means (25) for setting whether or not to display the plurality of segments;
As a result of the setting means, a determination means (40) for determining whether to display even when the setting is not displayed;
Control means (40) for controlling the display means to display the segment from the result of the determination means;
An imaging device comprising: The determination means (40) displays the battery segment when the remaining capacity of the battery is low or the battery is out of order when the setting means does not display the battery segment as a result of the setting means. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination is performed as follows. The determination means (40), when the setting means does not display the histogram segment as a result of the setting means, when the blacked out or white covered pixels exceed a predetermined value, The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination is performed so as to display. The determination means (40) displays the segment relating to the exposure when the setting means does not display the segment relating to the exposure and the exposure set by the user cannot be achieved. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination is performed as follows. A method for controlling an imaging apparatus capable of acquiring a remaining battery capacity provided with a finder,
A plurality of segments (41) to be displayed in the viewfinder;
A display step (43) for displaying the plurality of segments;
A setting step (25) for setting whether to display the plurality of segments;
As a result of the setting step, a determination step (40) for determining whether to display even when the setting is not displayed;
A control step (40) for controlling the display step to display the segment from the result of the determination step;
A method for controlling an imaging apparatus, comprising: The determination step (40) displays the battery segment when the remaining capacity of the battery is low or when the battery is out of order when the setting is such that the battery segment is not displayed as a result of the setting step. 6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the determination is performed as follows. In the determination step (40), if the histogram segment is set not to be displayed as a result of the setting step, the histogram is displayed when the blacked-out or white-out pixel exceeds a predetermined value. 6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the determination is performed so that the information is displayed. The determination step (40) displays the exposure-related segment when the exposure-related segment is not set when the setting-related step is set so that the exposure-related segment is not displayed. 6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the determination is performed as follows. The computer program for making a computer perform the control method of the imaging device as described in any one of Claims 5 thru | or 8.