JP2017215514A - Luminaire, control method and control program thereof, and imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent imaging failure resulting from vibration right after stopping automatic bounce drive.SOLUTION: A strobe light 300 is configured to reflect light from a light-emitting unit 302 on a reflection object such as a ceiling upon imaging, and then illuminates a subject. A strobe light control unit 301 is configured to, when the subject is illuminated, obtain a light-emitting angle upon irradiating the reflection object with light from the light-emitting unit according to a first distance to the subject and a second distance to the reflection object, together with a range finder 310 and a bounce angle calculation unit 306, and a head driving part control unit 304 is configured to drive a head part according to the light-emitting angle, thereby changing an irradiation angle of the light-emitting unit. After the irradiation angle is changed, the strobe control unit cannot allow at least imaging operation until a predetermined condition is satisfied.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an illuminating device, a control method thereof, a control program, and an imaging device, and more particularly to an illuminating device capable of changing a light irradiation direction.

  In general, so-called bounce flash photography is known in which light is emitted from an illumination device such as a strobe toward a ceiling or the like, and a subject is irradiated with diffuse reflected light from the ceiling. In bounce flash photography, the subject is indirectly illuminated with light from the illumination device, so the subject can be depicted with soft light.

  When performing bounce flash photography, there is one that obtains the distance from the imaging device to the subject (subject distance) and the distance from the imaging device to the reflecting surface (bounce surface) (bounce distance) (see Patent Document 1). . Patent Document 1 describes auto bounce for obtaining an angle of a light emitting unit (hereinafter referred to as a bounce angle) provided in a lighting device based on a subject distance and a bounce distance.

  Furthermore, there is a method for obtaining a subject distance based on a difference luminance value that is a difference between a luminance value in natural light and a luminance value when the lighting device is pre-lighted (see Patent Document 2).

JP-A-4-340527 JP-A-8-262528

  By the way, when calculating the bounce angle by obtaining the subject distance and the bounce distance based on the pre-flash result, the pre-flash is driven by driving the light emitting unit in the direction of the subject and the bounce plane (that is, by auto bounce drive). Need to do. However, if shooting is performed during auto bounce driving, shooting may fail due to vibration associated with driving.

  Furthermore, since pre-emission is performed, photometry and focus detection (hereinafter referred to as AF) for automatic exposure control (hereinafter referred to as AE) cannot be performed correctly. For this reason, it is necessary to prohibit shooting and auto-bounce driving, as well as AF and AE.

  However, vibration is generated immediately after the end of the auto bounce drive, and if the photographing is permitted at this timing, the photographing fails.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating device, a control method thereof, a control program, and an imaging device capable of preventing a photographing failure caused by vibration immediately after stopping the auto bounce drive.

  In order to achieve the above object, an illuminating device according to the present invention is an illuminating device that illuminates a subject by reflecting light from a light emitting unit with a reflector during photographing, and the illumination device illuminates the subject. A first distance from the device to the subject and a second distance from the illumination device to the reflector are measured, and the reflection from the light emitting unit according to the first distance and the second distance. A calculating means for obtaining a light emission angle when irradiating the object with light; a changing means for driving the light emitting section in accordance with the light emission angle to change the irradiation angle by the light emitting section; and And a permission unit that disallows at least a photographing operation for photographing the subject until a predetermined condition is satisfied after the change.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent photographing failure caused by vibration immediately after stopping the auto bounce drive.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure about an example of the imaging device with which the illuminating device by the 1st Embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn. It is a figure which shows the communication terminal in the connection part of a camera main body and strobe in the camera shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the signal waveform in the clock synchronous communication using the communication terminal shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication command transmitted to a strobe from the camera main body shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in an auto bounce operation in the camera body shown in FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an auto bounce operation in the strobe shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the auto bounce operation | movement in the strobe by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the auto bounce operation | movement in the electronic flash by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement in the case of the auto bounce operation | movement in the camera main body which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the auto bounce operation | movement in the electronic flash by the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

  Below, an example of the illuminating device by embodiment of this invention is demonstrated with reference to drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an example of an imaging device equipped with the illumination device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The illustrated imaging apparatus is, for example, a digital camera (hereinafter simply referred to as a camera), and has a camera body (imaging apparatus body) 100. A lens unit 200 is detachably attached to the camera body 100, and a strobe 300 that is an illumination device is attached.

  The camera body 100 is provided with a main mirror 101, and the main mirror 101 rotates according to the operating state of the camera. For example, when observing a subject image (optical image) with a viewfinder, the main mirror 101 is inserted obliquely into a photographing optical path (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1). As a result, the optical image incident through the lens unit 200 is reflected by the main mirror 101 and guided to a finder optical system described later. On the other hand, at the time of photographing, the main mirror 101 is retracted from the photographing optical path, and the optical image incident through the lens unit 200 is guided to the image sensor 103 described later.

  In FIG. 1, the position when the main mirror 101 is retracted from the photographing optical path is indicated by reference numeral 101 '.

  The shutter 102 is disposed in front of the image sensor 103 and controls the incidence of an optical image incident through the lens unit 200 on the image sensor 103. The shutter 102 is closed in a normal state and is opened at the time of photographing so that an optical image is incident on the image sensor 103. The shutter 102 is driven and controlled by the shutter control unit 115 under the control of the camera control unit 105.

  As the image sensor 103, for example, a CMOS sensor or a CCD sensor is used. The image sensor 103 is driven according to a timing signal that is an output of the timing generator 116, and converts an optical image into an analog signal by photoelectric conversion. The analog signal processing unit 104 samples and holds an analog signal that is an output of the image sensor 103, adds an analog gain, and converts the analog signal into a digital signal by A / D conversion.

  The camera control unit 105 performs digital signal processing, which will be described later, on the digital signal output from the analog signal processing unit 104 to generate image data. Then, the image data is stored in the memory 121 by the memory control unit 120.

  The camera control unit 105 includes a digital gain unit 106, an image processing unit 107, a photometry processing unit 113, and a focus detection processing unit 123. The digital gain unit 106 adds a digital gain to the digital signal and performs image processing. It outputs to 107. The image processing unit 107 performs predetermined digital signal processing on the output of the digital gain unit 106. For example, the image processing unit 107 performs pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the output of the digital gain unit 106 and outputs image data.

  The image display unit 119 is a monitor for displaying images and shooting information, and is arranged on the back side of the camera body 100. As the image display unit 119, for example, an LCD is used. The operation unit 122 is operated by a user, and the user inputs various instructions to the camera control unit 105 using the operation unit 122. The operation unit 122 includes operation buttons such as an AF instruction button, a shooting instruction button, an auto bounce instruction button, and an AE instruction button. Then, the user operates the operation buttons to give various instructions to the camera control unit 105.

  A focus plate 109 is disposed above the main mirror 101. The focus plate 109 is disposed on the primary imaging surface of the lens unit 200, and a Fresnel lens (condenser lens) is provided on the incident surface. The focus plate 109 forms an optical image (finder image) on the exit surface. The pentaprism 110 is for changing the finder optical path, and corrects the optical image formed on the exit surface of the focusing plate 109 to an erect image. The eyepiece 111 adjusts the diopter according to the user's eyes when the user looks into the viewfinder.

  In the photometric sensor 112, for example, the imaging region is divided into a plurality of regions, and each of the plurality of regions (divided regions) is provided with a photodiode. Then, the photometric sensor 112 measures the luminance of the optical image formed on the exit surface of the focusing plate 109 for each divided area and outputs it to the photometric processing unit 113.

  The AF sensor 117 outputs a defocus amount indicating a difference between the focus position of the focus lens provided in the lens unit 200 and the actual position. The focus detection processing unit 123 determines the lens driving amount based on the defocus amount. Then, as will be described later, the lens control unit 205 drives the focus lens provided in the lens unit 200 along the optical axis according to the lens driving amount.

  The above-described camera control unit 105 is, for example, a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and the CPU executes a program stored in the ROM to control the entire camera.

  The lens unit 200 includes a photographing lens group 201, and the photographing lens group 201 includes a focus lens and a zoom lens. A diaphragm 202 is disposed on the rear side of the photographing lens group 201. The diaphragm 202 adjusts the light amount at the time of photographing by adjusting the aperture diameter. The aperture of the diaphragm 202 is controlled by the diaphragm driver 204 under the control of the lens controller 205. The focus driving unit 203 performs focusing by driving the focus lens along the optical axis under the control of the lens control unit 205.

  The lens control unit 205 controls the entire lens unit 200, and sets the zoom position (focal length) and the focus position (focus distance) based on the position information of the photographing lens group 201 obtained by the lens position acquisition unit 207. Ask.

  As illustrated, the lens unit 200 is provided with a communication terminal 206, and the camera body 100 is provided with a communication terminal 118. The lens control unit 205 and the camera control unit 105 communicate with each other via communication terminals 206 and 118.

  The strobe 300 is detachable from the camera body 100 and includes a main body portion and a head portion. The main body unit is provided with a strobe control unit 301, and the strobe control unit 301 performs light emission control, head unit angle control, and the like.

  The head unit has a light emitting unit 302 and emits light according to a light emission instruction from the strobe control unit 301. The distance measuring photometric unit 303 receives the reflected light reflected by the distance measuring target from the light emitted from the light emitting unit 302 and sends the received light amount to the distance measuring unit 310. The distance measuring unit 310 calculates the distance to the distance measurement object (distance measurement distance) according to the received light amount.

  The head drive control unit 304 drives the head unit in the horizontal and vertical directions with respect to the main body unit under the control of the strobe control unit 301. Further, the head drive control unit 304 acquires the drive amount of the head unit, and outputs the relative position with respect to the main body unit corresponding to the drive amount to the strobe control unit 301. In addition, by driving the head unit, the light emitting unit 302 and the distance measuring photometric unit 303 can be opposed to each other in the direction of the distance measuring target.

  The posture detection unit 305 detects the inclination of the main body with respect to the direction of gravity and the rotation direction around the optical axis. The bounce angle calculation unit 306 calculates an optimal bounce angle based on the data (that is, the amount of received light) obtained by the distance measurement photometry unit 303 and the inclination detected by the posture detection unit 305.

  The operation unit 307 is used as an input unit that receives a user operation. The operation unit 307 includes, for example, a light emission mode setting button, an auto bounce instruction button, and various operation buttons. Then, the operation unit 307 outputs a user operation to the strobe control unit 301. The vibration detection unit 309 includes an acceleration sensor, and the strobe control unit 301 determines whether or not the strobe 300 is oscillating according to the acceleration obtained by the acceleration sensor.

  As illustrated, the strobe 300 and the camera body 100 are connected via a camera connection unit 308 and a strobe connection unit 114. Then, communication is performed with each other via the strobe control unit 301, the camera connection unit 308, and the strobe connection unit 114.

  Here, human face detection using the photometric sensor 112 will be described. Here, it is assumed that the photometric sensor 112 outputs a digital signal of, for example, length 640 pixels × width 480 pixels (about 300,000 pixels). The photometry processing unit 113 performs processing such as gamma conversion and color conversion on the digital signal to extract a luminance signal and a color signal. Then, the photometric processing unit 113 obtains the subject brightness based on the brightness signal, and determines whether or not a person exists in the scene from the pattern of the eyes, nose, and mouth of the subject. When a person is present in the object scene, the photometry processing unit 113 obtains coordinate information indicating the coordinates of the person's face.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing communication terminals in the connection portion between the camera body and the strobe in the camera shown in FIG.

  A communication terminal Sout is a data output terminal for clock synchronous communication in the strobe 300. The communication terminal Sin indicates a data input terminal by clock synchronous communication, and the communication terminal Sclk indicates a clock synchronous output terminal. A communication terminal Cout is a data output terminal for clock synchronous communication in the camera body 100. The communication terminal Cin indicates a data input terminal by clock synchronous communication, and the communication terminal Cclk is a clock synchronous output terminal.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing signal waveforms in clock synchronous communication using the communication terminals shown in FIG.

  Since it is synchronous clock communication, the camera body 100 receives data from the strobe 300 via the communication terminal Cin in synchronization with the rising edge of the clock at the communication terminal Cclk. Further, in synchronization with the rising edge of the clock at the communication terminal Cclk, the camera body 100 transmits data to the strobe 300 via the communication terminal Cout.

  When processing is performed in the camera main body 100, the camera main body 100 enters the processing standby (Busy) state with the level of the communication terminal Cclk set to low level (Lo). Further, when the communication process is completed, the camera body 100 sets the level of the communication terminal Cclk to the high level (Hi). In FIG. 3, the camera body 100 receives 32HEX data from the strobe 300.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a communication command transmitted from the camera body shown in FIG. 1 to the strobe.

  In the illustrated example, when a communication command (hereinafter simply referred to as a command) 10H is transmitted from the camera body 100 to the strobe 300, the strobe 300 recognizes that it is a “flash mode information request”. Then, the strobe 300 sets the light emission mode information in the second byte transmission data to be sent to the camera body 100. When the command 22H is transmitted from the camera body 100 to the strobe 300, the strobe 300 recognizes that it is a “front drive command”. As a result, the strobe 300 controls the head portion to face in the front (subject) direction. Subsequently, the strobe 300 performs front (subject) distance measurement in accordance with the information of the second byte sent from the camera body 100 (when “1”, distance measurement is performed, and when “0”, distance measurement is not performed). .

  In front (subject) distance measurement, the distance measurement photometry unit 303 obtains a difference luminance value between the luminance value of natural light for the front (subject) and the luminance value when the strobe 300 is pre-flashed. The subject distance that is the target distance is obtained. Since the method for obtaining the subject distance is described in, for example, the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, description thereof is omitted here.

  When the command 24H is transmitted from the camera body 100 to the strobe 300, the strobe 300 recognizes that it is a “ceiling drive command”. The strobe 300 controls the head portion to face the ceiling. Subsequently, the strobe 300 performs distance measurement on the ceiling in accordance with the second byte information sent from the camera body 100 (“1” performs distance measurement operation, “0” does not perform distance measurement operation).

  In the ceiling distance measurement, a difference luminance value between the luminance value of natural light on the ceiling (reflecting object) and the luminance value when the strobe 300 is pre-flashed is obtained, and the distance measuring photometric unit 303 determines the distance to be measured. Find the ceiling distance that is. Since the method for obtaining the ceiling distance is described in, for example, the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, description thereof is omitted here.

  When the command 26H is transmitted from the camera body 100 to the strobe 300, the strobe 300 recognizes that it is a “collective drive command”. As a result, the strobe 300 performs distance measurement by driving the head portion in the direction of the subject and then performing distance measurement on the ceiling by driving the head portion in the direction of the ceiling. Then, the strobe 300 obtains an optimum bounce angle (light emission angle or irradiation angle) based on each distance measurement result, and drives the head unit to the bounce angle.

  When the command 30H is transmitted from the camera body 100 to the strobe 300, the strobe 300 recognizes that it is a “drive state acquisition request”. The strobe 300 sets the operating state of the strobe 300 in the second byte of the command and notifies the camera body 100 of it. The above-mentioned operation state means, for example, a state of “auto bounce driving” or “auto bounce stop”, and when the strobe 300 is in auto bounce drive, “auto bounce drive” is 100 is notified. For example, when the commands 22H, 24H, and 28H are sent from the camera body 100 and the strobe 300 is operating in accordance with these commands, the strobe 300 notifies “during auto bounce driving”.

  When the command 32H is transmitted from the camera body 100 to the strobe 300, the strobe 300 recognizes that it is a “status acquisition request”. The strobe 300 sets the state of the strobe 300 in the second byte of the command and notifies the camera body 100 of it. The above-mentioned state means a state of “auto bounce driving”, “stopped”, or “vibrating”. For example, when the strobe 300 is performing an auto bounce operation, the strobe 300 notifies “auto bounce driving”. Even if the auto bounce operation is stopped, if it is determined that the vibration is detected based on the detection result of the vibration detection unit 309, the strobe 300 notifies “being vibrated”.

  When the command 34H is transmitted from the camera body 100 to the strobe 300, it is recognized as the strobe 300 “photographing permission request”. Then, the strobe 300 sets “shooting permission” or “shooting permission” to the second byte of the command, and notifies the camera body 100 of it. For example, when it is determined that the strobe 300 is vibrating based on the detection result of the vibration detection unit 309, “shooting not permitted” is notified.

  As another example of the command, the command 12H is a light emission mode setting for changing the light emission mode of the strobe 300. The flash mode of the strobe 300 can be changed by setting the flash mode in the second byte of the command and transmitting it. There are many commands transmitted from the camera body 100 to the strobe 300, but the description thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation during the auto bounce operation in the camera body shown in FIG.

  The camera control unit 105 determines whether or not an auto bounce drive request (drive request for auto bounce shooting: also referred to as auto bounce shooting request) has been received from the operation unit 122 (step S101). Here, for example, the user makes an auto bounce drive request by operating an auto bounce instruction button provided in the operation unit 122, but other buttons may be used instead. If there is no auto bounce drive request (NO in step S101), camera control unit 105 stands by.

  When there is an auto bounce drive request (YES in step S101), the camera control unit 105 performs prohibition setting for prohibiting AF, AE, and release (step S102). Accordingly, the operation of the AF instruction button, the shooting instruction button, and the AE instruction button provided in the operation unit 122 is prohibited. Then, the camera control unit 105 sends a command indicating an auto bounce drive request to the strobe 300 (step S103). Here, the camera control unit 105 performs command communication of the command 26H to make the strobe 300 recognize the “collective drive command”. When this command is received, the strobe 300 performs subject distance measurement by driving the head portion in the direction of the subject as described above. Subsequently, the strobe 300 performs ceiling distance measurement by driving the head portion in the ceiling direction. Then, the strobe 300 obtains an optimum bounce angle based on each distance measurement result, and drives the head unit to the bounce angle.

  Subsequently, the camera control unit 105 sends a command requesting acquisition of the strobe state to the strobe 300 (step S104). Here, the camera control unit 105 sends a command 32H to the strobe 300 to make the strobe 300 recognize a “status acquisition request”. Upon receiving this command, the strobe 300 notifies the camera control unit 105 of any of the states of “auto bounce driving”, “stopped”, or “vibrating”.

  The camera control unit 105 determines whether or not the strobe 300 is in auto bounce driving according to the strobe state received from the strobe 300 (step S105). If the auto bounce drive is being performed (YES in step S105), the camera control unit 105 returns to the process of step S104. On the other hand, when the auto bounce drive is not being performed (NO in step S105), the camera control unit 105 cancels the prohibition setting of AF and AE (step S106). As a result, the AF instruction button and the AE instruction button provided on the operation unit 122 can be operated.

  Subsequently, the camera control unit 105 acquires a strobe state by sending a command requesting acquisition of the strobe state to the strobe 300 in the same manner as the process of step S104 (step S107). Then, the camera control unit 105 determines whether or not the strobe vibration is being detected (step S108). If the strobe vibration is being detected (YES in step S108), the camera control unit 105 returns to the process of step S107.

  On the other hand, if no strobe vibration is being detected (NO in step S108), the camera control unit 105 cancels the release prohibition setting (step S109). As a result, the photographing button provided in the operation unit 122 can be operated. Thereafter, the camera control unit 105 ends the camera operation.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the auto bounce operation (strobe operation) in the strobe shown in FIG.

  The strobe controller 301 determines whether or not a command indicating an auto bounce drive request has been received (step S201). If the auto bounce drive request is not received (NO in step S201), the flash controller 301 stands by.

  When the auto bounce drive request is received (YES in step S201), the strobe control unit 301 sets the strobe 300 to the “auto bounce drive state” (step S202). During the “auto bounce drive state”, the strobe control unit 301 notifies the state acquisition request (32H command) sent from the camera body 100 that “auto bounce drive is in progress”.

  Subsequently, the strobe control unit 301 drives the head unit in the front (subject) direction by the head driving unit 304 (step S203). Then, the strobe controller 301 obtains the subject distance (front distance) as described above (step S204). Next, the strobe control unit 301 drives the head unit in the ceiling direction by the head driving unit 304 (step S205). Then, the flash control unit 301 obtains the ceiling distance as described above (step S206).

  Subsequently, the flash control unit 301 obtains an optimal bounce angle based on the subject distance and the ceiling distance (step S207). Then, the strobe control unit 301 drives the head unit to the optimum bounce angle by the head driving unit 304 (step S208).

  Next, the flash control unit 301 starts after resetting the timer for time management (step S209). That is, the flash control unit 301 starts timing. Then, the strobe controller 301 detects acceleration by the acceleration sensor of the vibration detector 309 (step S210). Here, a plurality of acceleration sensors are used, and the acceleration having the maximum absolute value among the accelerations obtained by these acceleration sensors is set as the detected acceleration.

  Subsequently, the strobe controller 301 determines whether or not the detected acceleration is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (step S211). If the detected acceleration is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the strobe control unit 301 determines that the vibration is being performed, and determines whether the count value of the timer is a predetermined count value. Here, the flash control unit 301 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after starting the timer (step S212).

  If the predetermined time has elapsed (NO in step S212), that is, if the predetermined condition is satisfied, strobe control unit 301 assumes that strobe 300 is in the “stopped” state. (Step S213). In this state, the strobe control unit 301 notifies the state acquisition request (30H command) sent from the camera body 100 as “stopped”. Then, the strobe controller 301 ends the strobe operation. If the detected acceleration is less than the threshold value, that is, if a predetermined condition is satisfied, the flash control unit 301 proceeds to the process of step S213.

  If it is within the predetermined time (YES in step S212), strobe controller 301 assumes that strobe 300 is in the “vibrating” state (step S214). In this state, the flash control unit 301 notifies the state acquisition request (30H command) sent from the camera 100 that “vibrating”. Then, the flash controller 301 returns to the process of step S210.

  Thus, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the vibration of the strobe 300 is detected immediately after the auto bounce drive is stopped. And if it vibrates, photography with a camera is prohibited. As a result, it is possible to prevent a shooting failure caused by vibration immediately after the stop of the auto bounce drive.

  Further, when a predetermined time has passed immediately after the stop of the auto bounce drive, photographing by the camera is permitted regardless of vibration. That is, when a predetermined time has elapsed, it is allowed to take a picture with the camera on the assumption that there is vibration caused by the environment such as a construction site, not vibration after stopping the auto bounce drive. As a result, the camera can be prevented from being locked in the shooting prohibited state. In addition, since the pre-flash is finished after the stop of the auto bounce drive, AF and AE are permitted to shorten the shooting time lag.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an example of a camera including a strobe according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the camera according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the camera shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, the operation of the camera body 100 is the same as the camera operation described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the auto bounce operation in the strobe according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated flowchart, the same steps as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  After the processing in step S202, the strobe control unit 301 drives the head unit in the front direction by the head driving unit 304 and starts an acceleration detection cycle timer (step S301). Accordingly, the strobe control unit 301 periodically performs acceleration detection by the acceleration sensor using the count of the activated acceleration detection cycle timer. In the processing of step S301, the acceleration having the maximum absolute value in the periodically detected acceleration is set as the detected acceleration. The strobe controller 301 updates the detected acceleration every time it is detected and stores it in the built-in memory. Thereafter, the flash controller 301 proceeds to the process of step S204.

  After the processing in step S207, the strobe control unit 301 drives the head unit to the optimum bounce angle by the head driving unit 304. When the head unit reaches the optimum bounce angle, the strobe controller 301 stops the acceleration detection cycle timer (step S302). Then, the flash controller 301 proceeds to the process of step S209.

  After the process of step S210, the strobe controller 301 determines whether or not the difference between the detected acceleration stored in the built-in memory between step S301 and step S302 and the detected acceleration obtained in step S210 is a predetermined value or more. Determination is made (step S303). If the difference is greater than or equal to the predetermined value (YES in step S303), strobe controller 301 proceeds to the process of step S212. On the other hand, if the difference is less than the predetermined value (NO in step S303), strobe controller 301 proceeds to the process in step S213.

  As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the state of the strobe 300 is determined by comparing the detected acceleration during the auto bounce drive with the detected acceleration immediately after the auto bounce drive is stopped. As a result, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not vibration has occurred immediately after stopping the auto bounce drive. In step S301, the maximum absolute value of the detected acceleration is stored in the built-in memory as the detected acceleration. However, the average value of the acceleration detected periodically may be stored in the built-in memory.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, an example of a camera including a strobe according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the camera according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the camera shown in FIG. In the third embodiment, the operation of the camera body 100 is the same as the camera operation described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the auto bounce operation in the strobe according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated flowchart, the same steps as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  After the process of step S209, the strobe controller 301 determines whether or not there has been a status acquisition request from the camera body 100 (step S401). Here, the flash control unit 301 determines whether or not a status acquisition request (32H command) is transmitted from the camera body 100. If there is a status acquisition request (YES in step S401), the flash controller 301 proceeds to the process of step S210. On the other hand, if there is no status acquisition request (NO in step S401), the flash control unit 301 stands by.

  In step S212, if the predetermined time has not elapsed after the timer is started (YES in step S212), the strobe control unit 301 notifies the camera body 100 of the “vibrating” state in response to the state acquisition request (step S402). ). Then, the flash controller 301 returns to the process of step S401.

  After the processing in step S213, the strobe control unit 301 notifies the camera body 100 of the “stopped” state in response to the state acquisition request (step S403). Then, the strobe controller 301 ends the strobe operation.

  As described above, in the third embodiment of the present invention, since vibration detection is performed in response to a state acquisition request from the camera body 100, the number of times the acceleration sensor is driven can be reduced. As a result, the power consumption of the strobe can be reduced.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, an example of a camera including a strobe according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the camera according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the camera shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation during the auto bounce operation in the camera body according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated flowchart, the same steps as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  After the process of step S102, the camera control unit 105 sends a drive state acquisition request (command 30H) to the strobe 300 (step S501). Thereafter, the camera control unit 105 proceeds to the process of step S104. In response to the drive state acquisition request, the strobe 300 returns either “auto bounce driving” or “auto bounce stopped” to the camera control unit 105. If the auto bounce drive is being performed in step 104 (YES in step S104), the camera control unit 105 returns to the process of step S501.

  After the process of step S105, the camera control unit 105 determines whether an AF and AE operation instruction has been issued from the operation unit 122 (step S502). When there is an AF and AE operation instruction (YES in step S502), the camera control unit 105 performs AF and AE operations in accordance with the AF and AE operation instructions (step S503). If there is an AF or AE operation instruction (YES in step S502), the camera control unit 105 determines whether or not a shooting request has been received from the operation unit 122 (step S504). If there is no AF or AE operation instruction (NO in step S502), the camera control unit 105 proceeds to the process of step S504.

  If there is no photographing request (NO in step S504), the camera control unit 105 returns to the process of step S502. On the other hand, when there is a photographing request (YES in step S504), the camera control unit 105 sends a photographing permission request to the strobe 300 (step S505). Here, the camera control unit 105 transmits a photographing permission request (command 34H) to the flash unit 300.

  Subsequently, the camera control unit 105 determines whether photographing is permitted (step S506). Here, the camera control unit 105 determines that the shooting is permitted when the response received from the strobe 300 in response to the shooting permission request (command 34H) is “shooting permission”.

  If shooting is not permitted (NO in step S506), camera control unit 105 returns to the process in step S502. On the other hand, when photographing is permitted (YES in step S506), camera control unit 105 cancels the photographing prohibition setting in step S108. Then, the camera control unit 105 performs a shooting operation (step S507) and ends the camera operation.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the auto bounce operation in the strobe according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated flowchart, the same steps as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  After the processing in step S208, the strobe control unit 301 sets the strobe 300 to the “auto bounce drive stopped” state (step S601). In this state, when there is an auto bounce drive state request (30H command) from the camera body 100, the flash control unit 301 sends “auto bounce drive stopped” to the camera body 100.

  Subsequently, the flash controller 301 determines whether or not a photographing permission request (command 34H) has been received from the camera body 100 (step S602). If the photographing permission request is not received (NO in step S602), the flash control unit 301 stands by. On the other hand, when the photographing permission request is received (YES in step S602), the flash controller 301 proceeds to the process of step S210.

  In step S211, if the detected acceleration (acceleration detection result) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (YES in step S211), the strobe control unit 301 sends “not permitted” for photographing to the camera body 100 (step S603). Then, the flash controller 301 returns to the process of step S602. On the other hand, if the detected acceleration is less than the predetermined threshold value (NO in step S211), the strobe control unit 301 sends “permission” for photographing to the camera body 100 (step S604) and ends the strobe operation.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the strobe 300 performs vibration detection when there is a photographing permission request from the camera body 100. As a result, the number of times the acceleration sensor is driven can be reduced, so that the power consumption of the strobe 300 can be reduced. Note that the shutter speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined value as a result of the exposure control (AF and AE operations) performed in step S503 when the photographing permission determination in step S506 shown in FIG. 9 is performed. In this case, the process may proceed to step S108 on the assumption that the shutter speed is high and the influence of vibration is small.

  As is clear from the above description, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the strobe control unit 301, the ranging photometry unit 303, the ranging unit 310, and the bounce angle calculation unit 306 function as calculation means. The strobe control unit 301 and the head drive control unit 304 function as changing means, and the strobe control unit 301 functions as permission means. Further, the vibration detection unit 309 functions as a measurement unit, and the strobe control unit 301 functions as a time measurement unit. The camera control unit 105 functions as a prohibiting unit and a canceling unit.

  In the four embodiments described above, an acceleration sensor is used as a sensor for detecting the vibration of the strobe 300, but other inertial sensors such as a gyro sensor may be used.

  In the above-described four embodiments, the vibration of the strobe 300 is detected by the vibration detection unit 309 of the strobe 300. The vibration of the strobe 300 may be detected by the vibration detection unit. In this case, it is not necessary for the camera body to acquire information related to the vibration state of the strobe 300 from the strobe 300, and the camera control unit may determine the presence or absence of vibration of the strobe 300 based on the detection result of the vibration detection unit of the camera body. .

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on embodiment, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, Various forms of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are also contained in this invention. .

  For example, the function of the above embodiment may be used as a control method, and this control method may be executed by the lighting device. Further, a program having the functions of the above-described embodiments may be used as a control program, and the control program may be executed by a computer included in the lighting device. The control program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, for example.

[Other Embodiments]
A program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium. The present invention can also be realized by a process in which one or more processors in the computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Camera main body 105 Camera control part 200 Lens unit 205 Lens control part 300 Strobe 301 Strobe control part 302 Light emission part 303 Photometry part for distance measurement 304 Head drive control part 306 Bounce angle calculation part

Claims (10)

An illumination device that illuminates a subject by reflecting light from a light emitting unit with a reflector during shooting,
When illuminating the subject, a first distance from the illumination device to the subject and a second distance from the illumination device to the reflector are measured, and the first distance and the second distance are measured. Calculating means for obtaining a light emission angle when irradiating light from the light emitting unit to the reflector according to
Changing means for changing the irradiation angle by the light emitting unit by driving the light emitting unit according to the light emitting angle;
Permission means for disallowing a photographing operation for photographing at least the subject until a predetermined condition is satisfied after the irradiation angle is changed by the changing means;
A lighting device comprising: The permission unit includes a measurement unit that measures vibration of the lighting device,
The permission unit is configured to capture an image of the subject when the predetermined condition is satisfied when the vibration obtained by the measurement unit becomes less than a predetermined threshold after the irradiation angle is changed by the changing unit. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the operation is permitted. The permission unit includes a measurement unit that measures vibration of the lighting device,
The permission means is obtained by the measurement means after the irradiation angle is changed by the first vibration obtained by the measurement means and the changing means when obtaining the first distance or the second distance. 2. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein when the difference from the second vibration is less than a predetermined value, a photographing operation for photographing the subject is permitted assuming that the predetermined condition is satisfied. . The permission means has time measuring means for starting time measurement after the irradiation angle is changed by the changing means,
The permission means permits a photographing operation for photographing the subject on the assumption that the predetermined condition is satisfied when a predetermined time elapses by the time counting means. The lighting device according to claim 1.   The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the permission unit performs measurement by the measurement unit when there is a request for acquiring the state of the lighting device in order to perform the photographing operation. An imaging apparatus main body equipped with the illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The imaging device main body prohibits photometry and focus detection when shooting the subject when there is an instruction for auto bounce shooting, and prohibiting means for prohibiting a shooting operation;
Upon receiving notification from the illumination device that the irradiation angle has been changed by the changing unit in response to the auto bounce shooting request, a release unit that cancels the prohibition of the photometry and focus detection;
An imaging device comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the canceling unit cancels the prohibition of the photographing operation when the permission unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied.   The canceling unit cancels the prohibition of the photographing operation when the photographing instruction is input, and the lighting device asks whether the photographing is permitted or not. 6. The imaging device according to 6. A method of controlling an illumination device that illuminates a subject by reflecting light from a light emitting unit with a reflector during shooting,
When illuminating the subject, a first distance from the illumination device to the subject and a second distance from the illumination device to the reflector are measured, and the first distance and the second distance are measured. A calculation step of obtaining a light emission angle when irradiating light from the light emitting unit to the reflector according to
A change step of changing the irradiation angle by the light emitting unit by driving the light emitting unit according to the light emitting angle;
A permission step of disallowing a photographing operation for photographing at least the subject until a predetermined condition is satisfied after the irradiation angle is changed by the changing step;
A control method characterized by comprising: A control program used in a lighting device that illuminates a subject by reflecting light from a light emitting unit with a reflector during shooting,
A computer included in the lighting device,
When illuminating the subject, a first distance from the illumination device to the subject and a second distance from the illumination device to the reflector are measured, and the first distance and the second distance are measured. A calculation step of obtaining a light emission angle when irradiating light from the light emitting unit to the reflector according to
A change step of changing the irradiation angle by the light emitting unit by driving the light emitting unit according to the light emitting angle;
A permission step of disallowing a photographing operation for photographing at least the subject until a predetermined condition is satisfied after the irradiation angle is changed by the changing step;
A control program characterized by causing

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