JP2020181512A - Electronic apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus capable of performing a more comfortable movement operation according to a target selected as a selection position.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus has a control means for performing control to change a selection position on an image according to a movement operation accompanying a movement of an operation body. The control means is configured to perform control, when the selection position specification mode is a first specification mode that does not relate to a specific subject detected by the subject detection means, to change the selection position according to a movement operation even when the integrated value of the operation amount by the movement operation does not exceed a first threshold value, and when the selection mode is a second specification mode for selecting the subject detected by the subject detection means, change the subject to be selected when the integrated value of the operation amount by the movement operation exceeds the first threshold value, according to the movement operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to a control method according to a movement operation accompanied by movement of an operating body.

There is known an electronic device that detects a subject having a specific feature from an image and selects one of a plurality of detected subjects as a target for autofocus (AF) or the like. Patent Document 1 simply describes both a switching operation of whether or not to select a face detected from a live image and a switching operation of selecting one of a plurality of faces when selecting a face. It has been proposed to do so with a single button operation. Patent Document 2 proposes that the position index displayed in the viewfinder is moved from the current position according to the direction and the amount of movement of the touch move in response to the touch move that moves by touching the touch panel on the back of the camera. Has been done. Then, if the destination of the position index is a position where a face is detected, it is proposed to track the face as an AF target.

JP-A-2010-41629 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-037893

If the target that can be selected as the selection position can specify a position that is not related to the subject (face, etc.) detected from the image, the selection position must follow the movement operation of the operating body (fingers, etc.) smoothly. The user may feel that the sex is bad. On the other hand, when the target that can be selected as the selection position is a subject detected from the image, if the selected subject is changed by a slight movement operation of the operating body, detailed operations are performed to select the intended subject. Required. Therefore, the user may feel that the operability is poor. Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not consider the movement responsiveness with good operability depending on whether or not the object that can be selected as the selection position is a specific subject detected from the image.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device and a control method thereof that enable a more comfortable movement operation according to an object selected as a selection position.

In order to solve the above problems, the electronic device of the present invention
A detection means that detects a movement operation that involves the movement of the operating body,
Subject detection means that detects a specific subject from an image,
It is a control means for controlling so that the selected position on the image can be changed according to the movement operation.
When the designated mode of the selected position is the first designated mode not related to the specific subject detected by the subject detecting means, the moving operation is performed according to the moving operation detected by the detecting means. Even if the integrated value of the operation amount does not exceed the first threshold value, the selected position is changed.
When the selection mode of the selection position is the second designation mode for selecting the subject detected by the subject detection means, the operation amount by the movement operation is integrated according to the movement operation detected by the detection means. It is characterized by having a control means for controlling so as to change the subject to be selected when the value exceeds the first threshold value.

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a moving operation with a better operability according to the target selected as the selected position.

It is an external view of the camera which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the camera which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the AF-ON button which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the AF point which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the distance measurement zone which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the movement of the AF frame which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of slide response processing which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the movement determination process which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation example of the camera which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of selection position movement processing which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the slide operation of the AF-ON button which concerns on this embodiment.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 (a) and 1 (b) are external views of a single-lens reflex camera (hereinafter referred to as a camera) 100 as an example of an imaging device (electronic device) to which the present invention can be applied. Specifically, FIG. 1A is a view of the camera 100 viewed from the first surface (front surface) side, and shows a state in which the photographing lens unit is removed. FIG. 1B is a view of the camera 100 as viewed from the second surface (back surface) side. The first surface is the front surface of the camera, which is the surface on the subject side (the surface on the imaging direction side). The second surface is the back surface of the camera, which is the surface on the back side (opposite side) of the first surface, and is the surface on the photographer side looking into the finder 16.

As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the camera 100 has a first grip portion 101 projecting forward so that a user who uses the camera 100 can stably grip and operate the camera 100 when shooting horizontally. It is provided. Further, the camera 100 is provided with a second grip portion 102 protruding forward so that the user who uses the camera 100 can stably grip and operate the camera 100 when shooting vertically. The first grip portion 101 is along the first side (the left side of the two vertical sides on the left and right of FIG. 1A) on the front surface of the camera 100, and the second grip portion 102 is on the front surface. It is along the second side (the lower side of the two horizontal sides above and below FIG. 1A) adjacent to the first side. The shutter buttons 103 and 105 are operating members for giving a shooting instruction. The main electronic dials 104 and 106 are rotation operation members, and by turning the main electronic dials 104 and 106, set values such as a shutter speed and an aperture can be changed. The shutter buttons 103 and 105 and the main electronic dials 104 and 106 are included in the operation unit 70. The shutter button 103 and the main electronic dial 104 can be mainly used for horizontal holding photography, and the shutter button 105 and the main electronic dial 106 can be mainly used for vertical holding photography.

In FIG. 1B, the display unit 28 displays an image and various information. The display unit 28 is provided on top of or integrally with the touch panel 70a capable of accepting touch operations (touch detection is possible). The AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 are operation members for setting the focus adjustment position and starting AF, and are included in the operation unit 70. In the present embodiment, the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 are touch operation members (infrared type sensors in the present embodiment) capable of accepting touch operations and pushing operations. Such an optical operating member shall be referred to as an optical tracking pointer (OTP). The user holds the camera 100 horizontally (while holding the camera 100 in the horizontal position), and while looking through the viewfinder 16, touches the AF-ON button 1 with the thumb of the right hand holding the first grip portion 101. Or, the slide operation in any two-dimensional direction can be performed. In addition, the user can perform touch operation or slide in any two-dimensional direction with the thumb of the right hand holding the second grip portion 102 with respect to the AF-ON button 2 while holding the viewfinder 16 vertically. You can perform operations. The vertical holding is a state in which the camera 100 is held in a vertical position 90 degrees different from the horizontal position. The user who operates the camera 100 can slide the AF-ON button 1 or the AF-ON button 2 to display the AF point frame (the position of the AF frame used for AF, the focus adjustment position, etc.) displayed on the display unit 28. The focus detection position) can be moved. In addition, the user can immediately start AF based on the position of the AF point frame by pressing the AF-ON button 1 or the AF-ON button 2. The AF-ON button 1 can be mainly used for horizontal holding shooting, and the AF-ON button 2 can be mainly used for vertical holding shooting.

The arrangement of the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1B, the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 are arranged on the back surface of the camera 100. Then, the AF-ON button 2 has a side (first side) along the first grip portion 101 and a side (second side) along the second grip portion 102 on the back surface of the camera 100, rather than other vertices. It is located near the apex formed by the side of). Further, the AF-ON button 2 is arranged at a position closer to the apex formed by the side along the first grip portion 101 and the side along the second grip portion 102 than the AF-ON button 1. .. The side (first side) of the back surface of the camera 100 along the first grip portion 101 is the right side of the two left and right vertical sides in FIG. 1B. The side (second side) of the back surface of the camera 100 along the second grip portion 102 is the lower side of the two upper and lower horizontal sides in FIG. 1 (b). Here, the above-mentioned vertices are vertices (virtual vertices) of the polygon when the back surface of the camera 100 is regarded as a polygon. If the back surface of the camera 100 is a perfect polygon, the above-mentioned vertices may be the vertices of the polygon (the actual vertices of the camera 100). The first side is the right side (vertical side) in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 (b), and the second side is the lower side (horizontal side) in the vertical direction in FIG. 1 (b). The above-mentioned apex formed by the first side and the second side is the lower right apex in FIG. 1 (b). Further, the AF-ON button 2 is an end of the side (first side) along the first grip portion 101 that is opposite to the end (that is, the upper end) on the side where the AF-ON button 1 is located. It is located near the part (lower end). Further, the shutter button 103 described above is arranged at a position where it can be operated (pressed) by the index finger of the right hand holding the first grip portion 101, and the shutter button 105 is arranged at a position where the right hand holding the second grip portion 102 can be operated. It is located in a position that can be operated with the index finger. The AF-ON button 1 is located closer to the shutter button 103 than the AF-ON button 2, and the AF-ON button 2 is located on the shutter button 105 rather than the AF-ON button 1. It is located close to each other.

The AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 are operating members different from the touch panel 70a, and do not have a display function. Further, in the example described later, an example of moving the indicator (AF frame) indicating the AF position selected by the operation to the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 will be described, but the operation to the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 will be described. The function executed according to is not particularly limited. For example, any indicator may be used as long as it is displayed on the display unit 28 and can be moved by sliding the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2. For example, it may be a pointing cursor such as a mouse cursor, or it may be a cursor indicating a selected option from a plurality of options (such as a plurality of items displayed on a menu screen). Different indicators may move depending on the slide operation to the AF-ON button 1 and the slide operation to the AF-ON button 2. The function executed by the push operation to the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 may be another function related to the function executed by the slide operation to the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2.

The mode changeover switch 60 is an operation member for switching various modes. The power switch 72 is an operating member that switches the power of the camera 100 on and off. The sub electronic dial 73 is a rotation operation member that moves a selection frame, feeds an image, and the like. The eight-direction keys 74a and 74b are operating members that can be pushed down in the up, down, left, right, upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right directions, respectively, and the processing according to the pushed direction of the eight-direction keys 74a and 74b. Is possible. The 8-direction key 74a can be mainly used for horizontal holding photography, and the 8-direction key 74b can be mainly used for vertical holding photography. The SET button 75 is an operating member mainly used for determining selection items and the like. The still image / moving image switching switch 77 is an operation member for switching between the still image shooting mode and the moving image shooting mode. The LV button 78 is an operating member for switching ON and OFF of the live view (hereinafter, LV). When the LV is turned on, the mirror 12 described later moves (mirror up) to the retracted position retracted from the optical axis, the subject light is guided to the imaging unit 22 described later, and the LV mode in which the LV image is captured is set. In the LV mode, the subject image can be confirmed in the LV image. When the LV is turned off, the mirror 12 moves on the optical axis (mirror down), the subject light is reflected, the subject light is guided to the finder 16, and the optical image of the subject (optical subject image) can be visually recognized from the finder 16. OVF mode is set. The play button 79 is an operation member for switching between a shooting mode (shooting screen) and a playback mode (playback screen). By pressing the playback button 79 during the shooting mode, the playback mode can be entered, and the latest image among the images recorded on the recording medium 200 (described later in FIG. 2) can be displayed on the display unit 28. The Q button 76 is an operation member for quick setting. When the Q button 76 is pressed on the shooting screen, the setting items displayed as a list of setting values can be selected, and when the setting items are further selected, each setting item is selected. You will be able to transition to the setting screen of. The mode changeover switch 60, the power switch 72, the sub electronic dial 73, the 8-direction keys 74a and 74b, the SET button 75, the Q button 76, the still image / video changeover switch 77, the LV button 78, and the play button 79 are on the operation unit 70. included. The menu button 81 is included in the operation unit 70 and is an operation member for performing various settings of the camera 100. When the menu button 81 is pressed, various settable menu screens are displayed on the display unit 28. The user can intuitively make various settings by using the menu screen displayed on the display unit 28, the sub electronic dials 73, the 8-direction keys 74a and 74b, the SET button 75, and the main electronic dials 104 and 106. The finder 16 is a peep-type (eyepiece type) finder for confirming the focus and composition of the optical image of the subject obtained through the lens unit. The INFO button 82 is included in the operation unit 70, and various information of the camera 100 can be displayed on the display unit 28.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the camera 100. The lens unit 150 is a lens unit equipped with an interchangeable photographing lens. The lens 155 is usually composed of a plurality of lenses such as a focus lens group and a zoom lens group, but in FIG. 2, it is simply shown by only one lens. The communication terminal 6 is a communication terminal for the lens unit 150 to communicate with the camera 100 side, and the communication terminal 10 is a communication terminal for the camera 100 to communicate with the lens unit 150 side. The lens unit 150 communicates with the system control unit 50 via these communication terminals 6 and 10. Then, the lens unit 150 controls the aperture 151 via the aperture drive circuit 152 by the internal lens system control circuit 154, and focuses by shifting the position of the lens 155 via the AF drive circuit 153. The lens unit 150 is mounted on the main body side where the display unit 28 is located via a mounting portion on which the lens unit 150 can be mounted. As the lens unit 150, various types of lenses such as a single focus lens and a zoom lens can be attached.

The AE sensor 17 measures the brightness of the subject (subject light) imaged on the focusing screen 13 through the lens unit 150 and the quick return mirror 12. The focus detection unit 11 is a phase difference detection type AF sensor that captures an image (subject light) incident on the quick return mirror 12 and outputs defocus amount information to the system control unit 50. The system control unit 50 controls the lens unit 150 based on the defocus amount information and performs phase difference AF. The AF method does not have to be phase-difference AF, and may be contrast AF. Further, the phase difference AF may be performed based on the defocus amount detected on the imaging surface of the imaging unit 22 without using the focus detection unit 11 (imaging surface phase difference AF).

The quick return mirror 12 (hereinafter referred to as the mirror 12) is instructed by the system control unit 50 at the time of exposure, live view shooting, and moving image shooting, and is moved up and down by an actuator (not shown). The mirror 12 is a mirror for switching the luminous flux incident from the lens 155 between the finder 16 side and the image pickup unit 22 side. Normally, the mirror 12 is arranged to guide (reflect) the luminous flux to the finder 16 (mirror down), but when shooting or live view display is performed, the light flux is guided to the imaging unit 22. It jumps upward and evacuates from the luminous flux (mirror lockup). Further, the mirror 12 is a half mirror so that a part of the light can be transmitted through the central portion thereof, and a part of the light flux is transmitted so as to be incident on the focus detection unit 11 for performing focus detection.

By observing the image formed on the focusing screen 13 through the pentaprism 14 and the finder 16, the user can confirm the focal state and composition of the optical image of the subject obtained through the lens unit 150.

The focal plane shutter 21 (shutter 21) is for controlling the exposure time of the imaging unit 22 under the control of the system control unit 50.

The image pickup unit 22 is an image pickup device (imaging sensor) composed of a CCD, a CMOS element, or the like that converts an optical image into an electric signal. The A / D converter 23 is used to convert an analog signal output from the imaging unit 22 into a digital signal.

The image processing unit 24 performs predetermined processing (resizing processing such as pixel interpolation and reduction and color conversion processing) on the data from the A / D converter 23 or the data from the memory control unit 15. Further, in the image processing unit 24, a predetermined calculation process is performed using the captured image data, and the system control unit 50 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the obtained calculation result. As a result, TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing are performed. Further, the image processing unit 24 performs a predetermined calculation process using the captured image data, and also performs a TTL method AWB (auto white balance) process based on the obtained calculation result.

The memory 32 stores image data obtained by the imaging unit 22 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 23, and image data for display on the display unit 28. The memory 32 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images, moving images for a predetermined time, and audio. The memory 32 may be a removable recording medium such as a memory card or a built-in memory.

The display unit 28 is a rear monitor for displaying an image, and is provided on the back surface of the camera 100 as shown in FIG. 1 (b). The D / A converter 19 converts the image display data stored in the memory 32 into an analog signal and supplies it to the display unit 28. The display unit 28 may be a liquid crystal display or another display such as an organic EL as long as it is a display for displaying an image.

The display unit 41 in the viewfinder displays a frame (AF frame) indicating the AF point at which autofocus is currently being performed, an icon indicating the setting state of the camera, and the like via the display unit drive circuit 42 in the viewfinder. To. Various set values of the camera 100 such as the shutter speed and the aperture are displayed on the outside finder display unit 43 via the outside finder display unit drive circuit 44.

The posture detection unit 55 is a sensor for detecting the posture according to the angle of the camera 100. Based on the posture detected by the posture detection unit 55, whether the image taken by the image pickup unit 22 is an image taken by holding the camera 100 horizontally or an image taken by holding the camera 100 vertically. It can be discriminated. The system control unit 50 can add orientation information according to the posture detected by the posture detection unit 55 to the image file of the image captured by the image pickup unit 22, or rotate and record the image. is there. As the posture detection unit 55, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like can be used. It is also possible to detect the movement (pan, tilt, lift, whether or not it is stationary, etc.) of the camera 100 by using the acceleration sensor or the gyro sensor, which is the posture detection unit 55.

The non-volatile memory 56 is a memory that can be electrically erased and recorded by the system control unit 50, and for example, EEPROM or the like is used. The non-volatile memory 56 stores constants, programs, and the like for the operation of the system control unit 50. The program referred to here is a program for executing various flowcharts described later in the present embodiment.

The system control unit 50 incorporates at least one processor (including a circuit) and controls the entire camera 100. The system control unit 50 realizes each process of the present embodiment described later by executing the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56. The system memory 52 develops constants and variables for the operation of the system control unit 50, programs read from the non-volatile memory 56, and the like. The system control unit 50 also controls the display by controlling the memory 32, the D / A converter 19, the display unit 28, and the like.

The system timer 53 is a time measuring unit that measures the time used for various controls and the time of the built-in clock. The mode changeover switch 60 switches the operation mode of the system control unit 50 to any one of a still image shooting mode, a moving image shooting mode, and the like. The still image shooting mode includes a P mode (program AE), an M mode (manual), and the like. Alternatively, after switching to the menu screen once with the mode changeover switch 60, the mode may be switched to any of these modes included in the menu screen by using another operation member. Similarly, the moving image shooting mode may include a plurality of modes. In the M mode, the aperture value, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity can be set by the user, and shooting can be performed with the exposure desired by the user.

The first shutter switch 62 is turned on by a so-called half-press (shooting preparation instruction) during the operation of the shutter buttons 103 and 105 provided on the camera 100, and the first shutter switch signal SW1 is generated. The system control unit 50 starts operations such as AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing by the first shutter switch signal SW1. Photometry is also performed by the AE sensor 17.

The second shutter switch 64 is turned on when the operations of the shutter buttons 103 and 105 are completed, so-called fully pressed (shooting instruction), and the second shutter switch signal SW2 is generated. The system control unit 50 starts a series of shooting processes from reading the signal from the imaging unit 22 to recording the image as an image file on the recording medium 200 by the second shutter switch signal SW2.

The power supply control unit 83 is composed of a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is installed, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. Further, the power supply control unit 83 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and the instruction of the system control unit 50, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 200 for a necessary period. The power switch 72 is a switch for switching the power of the camera 100 on and off.

The power supply unit 30 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like. The recording medium I / F18 is an interface with a recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card for recording a captured image, and is composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like.

As described above, the camera 100 has a touch panel 70a capable of detecting contact with the display unit 28 (touch panel 70a) as one of the operation units 70. The touch panel 70a and the display unit 28 can be integrally configured. For example, the touch panel 70a is configured so that the light transmittance does not interfere with the display of the display unit 28, and is attached to the upper layer of the display surface of the display unit 28. Then, the input coordinates on the touch panel 70a are associated with the display coordinates on the display unit 28. As a result, it is possible to configure a GUI (graphical user interface) as if the user can directly operate the screen displayed on the display unit 28. The system control unit 50 can detect the following touch operation or the state of the touch panel 70a.

-A finger or pen that has not touched the touch panel 70a has newly touched the touch panel 70a. That is, the start of touch (hereinafter referred to as touch-down).

-The touch panel 70a is in a state of being touched with a finger or a pen (hereinafter, referred to as touch-on).

-The finger or pen is moving while touching the touch panel 70a (hereinafter, referred to as touch move (Touch-Move)).

-The finger or pen that was touching the touch panel 70a has been released from the touch panel 70a. That is, the end of touch (hereinafter referred to as touch-up (Touch-Up)).

-A state in which nothing is touched on the touch panel 70a (hereinafter, referred to as touch-off).

When touchdown is detected, touch-on is also detected at the same time. After touchdown, touch-on usually continues to be detected unless touch-up is detected. Touch-on is also detected when touch-on is detected. Even if touch-on is detected, touch move is not detected unless the touch position is moved. After it is detected that all the fingers and pens that have been touched are touched up, the touch is turned off.

These operations / states and the position coordinates of the finger or pen touching on the touch panel 70a are notified to the system control unit 50 through the internal bus, and the system control unit 50 determines which on the touch panel 70a based on the notified information. Determine if such an operation has been performed. Regarding the touch move, the moving direction of the finger or pen moving on the touch panel 70a can also be determined for each vertical component and horizontal component on the touch panel 70a based on the change in the position coordinates. Further, it is assumed that a stroke is drawn when the touch panel 70a is touched up from the touchdown through a constant touch move. The operation of drawing a stroke quickly is called flicking. Flicking is an operation of quickly moving a finger on the touch panel 70a by a certain distance and then releasing it as it is, in other words, an operation of swiftly tracing the touch panel 70a with a finger. It can be determined that the flick has been performed when it is detected that the touch move is performed at a predetermined speed or more over a predetermined distance and the touch-up is detected as it is. Further, when it is detected that the touch move is performed at a speed equal to or less than a predetermined distance, it is determined that the drag has been performed. As the touch panel 70a, any of various touch panels such as a resistive film method, a capacitance method, a surface acoustic wave method, an infrared method, an electromagnetic induction method, an image recognition method, and an optical sensor method can be used. Good. There are a method of detecting that there is a touch due to contact with the touch panel and a method of detecting that there is a touch due to the approach of a finger or a pen to the touch panel, but either method may be used.

The system control unit 50 can detect a touch operation or a pressing operation on the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 by the notification (output information) from the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2. Based on the output information of the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2, the system control unit 50 sets the direction of movement of the finger or the like on the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 (hereinafter referred to as the moving direction) up, down, and left. , Right, upper left, lower left, upper right, lower right. Further, the system control unit 50 determines the amount of movement of a finger or the like on the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 in the two-dimensional directions of the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction based on the output information of the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2. Hereinafter, the movement amount (referred to as x, y)) is calculated. The system control unit 50 can further detect the following operations or states of the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2. The system control unit 50 individually calculates the movement direction and the movement amount (x, y) for each of the AF-ON button 1 and the AF-ON button 2, and detects the following operations / states.

-A finger or the like that has not touched the AF-ON button 1 or the AF-ON button 2 newly touches the AF-ON button 1 or the AF-ON button 2. That is, the start of touch (hereinafter referred to as touch-down).

-The AF-ON button 1 or the AF-ON button 2 is in a state of being touched with a finger or the like (hereinafter, referred to as touch-on).

-A finger or the like is moving while touching the AF-ON button 1 or the AF-ON button 2 (hereinafter referred to as a touch move (Touch-Move)).

-The finger that was touching the AF-ON button 1 or AF-ON button 2 has been released from the AF-ON button 1 or AF-ON button 2. That is, the end of touch (hereinafter referred to as touch-up (Touch-Up)).

-A state in which nothing is touched on the AF-ON button 1 or the AF-ON button 2 (hereinafter, referred to as touch-off).

When touchdown is detected, touch-on is also detected at the same time. After touchdown, touch-on usually continues to be detected unless touch-up is detected. Touch-on is also detected when touch-on is detected. Even if touch-on is detected, if the movement amount (x, y) is 0, the touch move is not detected. After it is detected that all the touched fingers have touched up, the touch-off is performed.

The system control unit 50 determines what kind of operation (touch operation) is performed on the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 based on these operations / states, the moving direction, and the moving amount (x, y). Regarding the touch move, the movement of the finger etc. on the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 is 8 directions of up, down, left, right, upper left, lower left, upper right, lower right, or x-axis direction and y-axis direction. Detects movement in the two-dimensional direction. The system control unit 50 determines that the slide operation has been performed when the movement in any of the eight directions or the movement in one or both of the two-dimensional directions in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction is detected. It shall be. In the present embodiment, the AF-ON buttons 1 and 2 are infrared touch sensors. However, a touch sensor of another method such as a resistive film method, a surface acoustic wave method, a capacitance method, an electromagnetic induction method, an image recognition method, or an optical sensor method may be used.

The structure of the AF-ON button 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). Since the structure of the AF-ON button 2 is the same as that of the AF-ON button 1, the description thereof will be omitted.

The cover 310 is an exterior cover of the AF-ON button 1. The window 311 is a part of the exterior cover of the AF-ON button 1 and transmits the light projected from the light projecting unit 312. The cover 310 projects outward from the exterior cover 301 of the camera 100 and can be pushed in. The light projecting unit 312 is a light emitting device such as a light emitting diode that irradiates light toward the window 311. The light emitted from the light projecting unit 312 is preferably light (infrared light) other than visible light. When the finger 300 is touching the surface of the window 311 (the operation surface of the AF-ON button 1), the light emitted from the light projecting unit 312 is reflected and reflected on the surface of the touching finger 300. The light is received (imaging) by the light receiving unit 313. The light receiving unit 313 is an image sensor. Based on the image captured by the light receiving unit 313, the operation body (finger 300) is not touching the operation surface of the AF-ON button 1, the operation body is touched, or the touching operation body is touched. It is possible to detect whether the vehicle is moving (sliding operation) or the like. The cover 310 is an elastic member 314 and is installed on the ground plane 316. When the finger 300 pushes the surface of the window 311 and the cover 310 is pushed in, the cover 310 touches the switch 315 for pushing detection. As a result, it is detected that the AF-ON button 1 is pressed.

The face detection function will be described. The system control unit 50 sends an image to be face-detected to the image processing unit 24. Under the control of the system control unit 50, the image processing unit 24 applies a horizontal bandpass filter to the image data. Further, under the control of the system control unit 50, the image processing unit 24 applies a vertical bandpass filter to the processed image data. Edge components are detected from the image data by these horizontal and vertical bandpass filters.

After that, the system control unit 50 performs pattern matching on the detected edge components and extracts candidate groups for eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Then, the system control unit 50 determines from the extracted eye candidate groups that satisfy the preset conditions (for example, the distance between the two eyes, the inclination, etc.) as the eye pair, and determines that the eye pair. Only those with are narrowed down as a candidate group for the eyes. Then, the system control unit 50 associates the narrowed-down eye candidate group with other parts (nose, mouth, ear) that form the corresponding face, and passes a preset non-face condition filter. , Detect the face. The system control unit 50 outputs the above face information according to the face detection result, and ends the process. At this time, a feature amount such as the number of faces is stored in the system memory 52.

As described above, it is possible to perform image analysis on the LV image or the image to be reproduced and displayed, extract the feature amount of the image, and detect the subject information (subject detection for detecting a specific subject). In the present embodiment, the face is taken as an example as a specific subject, but other subjects such as eyes, hands, torso, specific individuals, moving objects, characters, etc. can also be detected and selected as targets for AF and the like. is there.

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of a state in which the finger 300 is touching the operation surface of the AF-ON button 1, but the AF-ON button 1 is not pressed. FIG. 3B is an outline of a state in which it is detected that the AF-ON button 1 is pushed and the AF-ON button 1 is pressed by the finger 300 pressing the operation surface of the AF-ON button 1. It is a figure. When the finger 300 is separated from the operation surface of the AF-ON button 1 from the pressed state of FIG. 3 (b), the AF-ON button 1 does not touch the switch 315 due to the force of the elastic member 314 (a). Return to the state. Although the example in which the elastic member 314 is installed on the ground plane 316 has been described, it may be installed on the exterior cover 301 instead of the ground plane 316. Further, the AF-ON button 1 is limited to the structures shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) as long as it can detect pressing into the operation surface and touch operation on the operation surface. However, it may be another structure.

The AF frame that can be selected in the OVF mode will be described. In the OVF mode, as the AF frame selection mode (distance measurement area selection mode), the user can select and set at least one of a plurality of selection modes including the following selection modes in advance from the setting menu.

1-point AF (arbitrary selection): A selection mode in which the user selects one AF point to be used for focusing (AF) from 191 AF points (focus adjustment area). The focus adjustment region is a range narrower than the zone AF described later.

-Zone AF (zone optional selection): A selection mode in which multiple AF points are classified into nine AF zones (focus adjustment areas) and the user selects one of the AF zones. Automatic selection AF is performed using all AF points included in the selected zone. In the automatic selection AF, AF is performed so that the subject that is determined to be the subject to be automatically focused among the subjects measured at the target AF point is in focus. Basically, AF is performed so that the subject at the closest distance is in focus, but conditions such as the position on the screen, the size of the subject, and the subject distance may be added. It is easier to capture the subject than single-point AF, and it is easier to focus when shooting a moving subject. Further, since the focus zone is narrowed down, it is possible to prevent the subject from being focused at an unintended position in the composition.

-Automatic selection AF: A mode in which the above-mentioned automatic selection AF is performed using all AF points. The AF points used for AF are automatically determined from all the AF points without the user selecting the AF area.

A range-finding point that can be selected by one-point AF will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). FIG. 4A is a display example of the selectable AF points on the display unit 41 in the finder and the selected AF points. The user can select any one of the AF point cloud 410. The selected AF point is displayed as the AF frame 400. The AF frame 400 is actually visually recognized by superimposing it on the optical image of the subject. Of the AF point group 410, unselected AF points may not be displayed. The focus detection unit 11 can perform focus detection and AF at positions corresponding to the respective positions of the focus points included in the focus point group 410. The AF point group 410 is classified into a left AF point group 411, a central AF point group 412, and a right AF point group 413. In the left AF point group 411 and the right AF point group 413, 63 AF points are arranged in a matrix of 9 rows and 7 columns, respectively. In the central AF point group 412, 65 AF points are arranged in a matrix of 13 rows and 5 columns. In the one-point AF, a total of 191 AF points included in the left AF point group 411, the central AF point group 412, and the right AF point group 413 are selected as selection candidates, and any one of them is used for AF. It is possible to select as. FIG. 4A is a display example in which the AF points (center AF points) in the 7th row and 3rd column included in the central AF point group 412 are selected as the AF frame 400. FIG. 4B is a display example in which the AF points (center AF points) in the 6th row and 4th column included in the central AF point group 412 are selected as the AF frame 400. By moving the AF frame 400 to the right once from the state of FIG. 4 (a) (the selection position movement amount = 1 described later is referred to as one time) and once upward, the state of FIG. 4 (b) is obtained. be able to. The state shown in FIG. 4B can also be obtained by moving the AF frame 400 to the upper right once from the state shown in FIG. 4A.

The ranging zones that can be selected by the zone AF will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (i). The same materials as those in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are shown using the same reference numerals. In the zone AF, it is possible to select one zone by using the nine ranging zones shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (i) as selection candidates. FIG. 5A shows the central ranging point group (zone including the ranging point groups in the 4th to 10th rows and the 1st to 5th columns included in the central ranging point group 412) in the ranging point group 410. Is an example in which the zone AF frame 500 is displayed by selecting.

FIG. 5 (b) shows that the zone AF frame 500 is moved upward once from the state of FIG. 5 (a), and is included in the upper AF zone (central AF point group 412) of the AF point group 410. This is an example in which the zone including the AF point cloud in the 1st to 7th rows and the 1st to 5th columns) is selected. Similarly, FIG. 5C is an example in which the zone AF frame 500 is moved downward once from the state of FIG. 5A to select the lower ranging zone. FIG. 5D is an example in which the zone AF frame 500 is moved to the left once from the state of FIG. 5A to select the ranging zone on the left side. In FIG. 5 (e), the zone AF frame 500 is moved from the state of FIG. 5 (a) once to the upper left, or once to the left and once upward to select the ranging zone in the upper left. This is an example. In FIG. 5 (f), the zone AF frame 500 is moved once to the lower left or once to the left and once to the lower left from the state of FIG. 5 (a) to select the ranging zone at the lower left. This is an example. FIG. 5 (g) is an example in which the zone AF frame 500 is moved to the right once from the state of FIG. 5 (a) to select the ranging zone on the right side. In FIG. 5 (h), the zone AF frame 500 is moved once to the upper right or once to the right and once to the upper right from the state of FIG. 5 (a) to select the ranging zone in the upper right part. This is an example. In FIG. 5 (i), the zone AF frame 500 is moved once to the lower right or once to the right and once to the lower right from the state of FIG. 5 (a) to select the ranging zone at the lower right. This is an example.

The AF frame that can be selected in the LV mode will be described. In the LV mode, as the AF frame selection mode (distance measurement area selection mode, AF method), the user can select and set at least one of a plurality of selection modes including the following selection modes in advance from the setting menu. it can. In addition, it is assumed that the LV mode is used even during the movie shooting standby state (movie shooting mode) and the movie recording.

-Face + tracking priority AF (face + tracking AF): When a face is detected from the LV image, the face is automatically tracked and AF is performed, and when the face is not detected, automatic selection AF is performed. A selection mode in which the AF position is determined with and AF is performed. When multiple faces are detected from the LV image, the AF frame (face tracking frame) is initially displayed on the face determined by automatic selection, and left and right to the 8-direction keys 74a and 74b and the AF-ON button. By operation, you can switch the tracking target to the right or left face. Further, by touching the display unit 28, a face or a subject (object) other than the face can be selected as a tracking target, and the AF can be adjusted by tracking.

-Live 1-point AF (arbitrary selection): A selection mode in which the user selects one AF point to be used for focusing (AF) from 5655 AF points arranged in 65 rows and 87 columns. Focus detection and AF are performed on the selected AF point by the imaging surface phase difference AF or contrast AF.

The movement of the AF frame in the live one-point AF will be described with reference to FIG. 6A. FIG. 6A is a display example of the display unit 28 when the live 1-point AF is set in the LV mode. Various setting information, touch icons, and AF frame 600 are displayed on the LV image 601. The AF frame 600 is an indicator showing a selection position on the LV image, and can be moved according to a direction instruction operation with the eight-direction keys 74a and 74b and a slide operation to the AF-ON button. By multiplying the amount of operation for each component in the x-direction and y-direction of the operation on these operating members by a predetermined coefficient, the AF frame 600 moves relatively from the position before the movement, for example, the AF frame 600'. Move to position.

The movement of the AF frame in the face + tracking AF will be described with reference to FIG. 6B. FIG. 6B shows a display example on the display unit 28 when face + tracking AF is set in the LV mode, a plurality of faces are detected from the LV image, and one face is tracked. Is. Various setting information, touch icons, and AF frame 610 (here, it is also a face frame, a tracking frame, and a face tracking frame) are displayed by superimposing on the LV image 601. Three faces, face 621, face 622, and face 623, are detected from the LV image 601. In the illustrated example, face 621 is selected as an AF target and tracked. The AF frame 610 can be moved to another detected face in response to a left-right direction instruction operation with the eight-direction keys 74a and 74b and a left-right slide operation with the AF-ON button. For example, in response to a movement instruction of the movement amount 1 (minimum unit movement amount) by sliding the AF-ON button to the right, the face on the right side of the currently selected face 621 before the selection change is selected. The AF frame can be moved to the face closest to the inside face, that is, face 622. When the AF frame is moved to the face 622, the AF frame 610 is hidden and the AF frame 610'is displayed. At this time, the AF frame moves from the face 621 before the selection change to the face 622 without going through a position other than the face. Details of changing the face selection by sliding the AF-ON button to switch the selection in the left-right direction will be described later.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of slide response processing for the AF-ON button. The slide response process is an execution process of a function (eg, movement of the AF frame) corresponding to a slide operation in which the operation surface is touched and touch-moved without pressing the AF-ON button. This process is realized by expanding the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 to the system memory 52 and executing it by the system control unit 50. When the camera 100 is started in the shooting mode, the process of FIG. 7 is started. When the camera 100 is started in the shooting mode, other processes (for example, a process corresponding to the operation of another operation member included in the operation unit 70, a process corresponding to the pressing of the AF-ON button) are also performed in parallel. However, their description will be omitted. Further, in FIGS. 7 to 10, the response processing to the slide operation for the AF-ON button 1 will be described, but the AF-ON button 2 is also processed in the same manner. However, when the touch-on to the AF-ON button 1 is detected, the slide response processing for the AF-ON button 2 is not performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent a malfunction due to a conflict between operations on the AF-ON button 1 and the AF-ON button 2 (priority is given to the slide operation on the AF-ON button 1).

In S701, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not there is a touchdown to the AF-ON button 1. If there is a touchdown, the process proceeds to S703, otherwise the process proceeds to S702. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the process after it is determined that the touchdown has occurred is the process performed in a state where the pressing of the AF-ON button 1 is not detected.

In S702, it is determined whether or not the end condition of the slide response processing (for example, power off, transition to the reproduction mode, etc.) is satisfied. If the end condition is satisfied, the slide response process is terminated, and if not, the process proceeds to S701 to repeat the process.

In S703, the system control unit 50 initializes various variables related to the slide operation. For example, the internal variable N is initialized to 0. This N indicates the number of samplings and is used when averaging the amount of movement. Every time N reaches 5, the movement amount obtained by averaging the movement amounts (touch move amount, slide amount) obtained in the five samplings is acquired. Further, in S703, the system control unit 50 initializes the variable i to 0. This i indicates the number of acquisitions of the averaged movement amount since it was touched. Further, the system control unit 50 initializes the variable Dsum to 0. Dsum is an integrated value of the movement distance (operation amount) in one slide operation in one or more acquisition periods (50 msec described later), and is a two-dimensional coordinate value having a directional component. Dsum is a variable that may be initialized even before touch-up (ie, during touch), as will be described later (ie, the total cumulative amount of touch movement distance after touch-down). Does not always indicate).

In S704, the system control unit 50 performs Wait processing before reading the detected value of the movement amount from the AF-ON button 1. The Wait period is assumed to be 10 msec (10 milliseconds).

In S705, the system control unit 50 acquires the detection value (count value whose unit is not the distance) Cx of the movement amount in the X direction (horizontal direction) from the AF-ON button 1. Similarly, in S706, the system control unit 50 acquires the detection value (count value whose unit is not the distance) Cy of the movement amount in the Y direction (vertical direction) from the AF-ON button 1.

In S707, the system control unit 50 stores the count value Cx in the X direction acquired in S705 in the Nth Cxn [N] of the array Cxn. In S708, the system control unit 50 stores the count value Cy in the Y direction acquired in S706 in the Nth Cyn [N] of the array Cyn.

In S709, the system control unit 50 increments the variable N representing the number of samplings.

In S710, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not there is a touch-up from the AF-ON button 1. If there is a touch-up from the AF-ON button 1, the process proceeds to S716, and if not, that is, if the touch to the AF-ON button 1 continues, the process proceeds to S711.

In S711, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the variable N is 5, that is, whether or not the number of samplings has reached 5. The case where N = 5 is the time when 50 msec has elapsed since the touchdown occurred for the first time, and the time when 50 msec has passed since the previous acquisition of the averaged movement amount after the first time. .. In the present embodiment, the wait time in S704 is 10 msec, and the movement of the AF frame in response to the slide operation to the AF-ON button 1 is delayed so that the user can recognize it, that is, the responsiveness is felt to be poor. Is not desirable, so N = 5. That is, the acquisition frequency of the averaged distance is set to every 50 msec.

In S712, the system control unit 50 has the average value (Cxave) of the count values from Cxn [0] to Cxn [N-1] and the average value of the count values from Cyn [0] to Cyn [N-1]. (Cyave) is calculated.

In S713, the system control unit 50 converts the average count values Cxave and Cave of the output values from the AF-ON button 1 of the last five times into the distances Xave and Yave in the unit μm (micrometer). Specifically, Cxave and Cave are multiplied by predetermined counts to obtain Xave and Yave [μm], respectively. By averaging and then converting to distance in this way, it is possible to prevent the AF frame movement amount from becoming extremely unnatural with respect to the actual finger movement amount due to the effects of noise and the like. doing. Further, in S713, the system control unit 50 increments the variable i.

In S714, the system control unit 50 performs a movement determination process. The movement determination process will be described later with reference to FIG.

In S715, the system control unit 50 initializes the variable N to 0, then proceeds to S704 to perform sampling for the next acquisition of the averaged movement amount.

In S716, the system control unit 50 performs the same processing as in S712. The difference from S712 is that N is not always 5. In S716, unlike S712, the variable N × 10 msec, which is the acquisition interval of the averaged movement amount, may be shorter than 50 msec.

In S717, the system control unit 50 converts Cxave and Cyber into Xave and Yave [μm] and increments i in the same manner as in S713.

In S718, the system control unit 50 performs the movement determination process in the same manner as in S714. The movement determination process will be described later with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the movement determination process. This process is a detail of the process of S714 and S718 of FIG. 7 described above. Further, this process is realized by expanding the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 to the system memory 52 and executing the program by the system control unit 50.

In S801, the system control unit 50 substitutes (Xave, Yave) [μm] calculated in S713 or S717 of FIG. 7 described above into the variable di. The variable di is the amount of movement having a directional component in the slide operation of the current acquisition times (the latest 50 msec if not touched up).

In S802, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the current operation mode is the OVF mode. If it is in the OVF mode, the process proceeds to S803, and if not, the process proceeds to S820.

In S803, the system control unit 50 adds the movement amount di substituted in S801 to the integrated value Dsum (two-dimensional coordinate value having a directional component) of the movement amount.

In S804, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the ranging area selection mode is set to 1-point AF. If it is set to 1-point AF, the process proceeds to S805, and if not, the process proceeds to S811.

In S805, the system control unit 50 calculates the movement speed (operation speed) of the slide operation for the current acquisition times (the latest 50 msec if not touched up). Specifically, it is calculated as the moving speed Vdi = | di | / 50 [msec]. | Di | = √ (Xave ² + Yave ² ). Since | di | itself is the amount of movement at regular time intervals (50 msec), it is proportional to the movement speed. Therefore, instead of dividing by the time (50 msec), the comparison with the threshold value in S806 described later may be a process of comparing | di | with the threshold value (threshold value for comparison with | di |).

In S806, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the movement speed Vdi of the slide operation for the acquisition times this time exceeds the threshold value TH_V. If the moving speed Vdi exceeds the threshold value TH_V (faster than the predetermined speed), the process proceeds to S807, and if not (when the moving speed Vdi is equal to or less than the threshold value TH_V), the process proceeds to S808.

In S807, the system control unit 50 sets the parameters related to the determination ellipse described later in S809 as follows.

Thx = Thx1
Thy = Th1
(Th1 <Thx1)
Thx1 and Th1 are values previously recorded in the non-volatile memory 56, and satisfy the relationship of Thx1> Th1. As will be described later, the reason why this relationship is satisfied is that the vertical direction is the horizontal direction, considering that it is more difficult to move the finger in the vertical direction than the horizontal direction. This is so that the movement of the AF frame can be started with a shorter movement amount than the above. Thx and Thy are variables that differ depending on the conditions, but in either case, Thx is a value that defines the width of the judgment ellipse centered on the origin, and Thy is the vertical width of the judgment ellipse centered on the origin. The value to define. In the present embodiment, since Thx> Thy is satisfied in each case, the width of the determination ellipse = long axis = 2Thx, and the vertical width of the determination ellipse = short axis = 2Th.

In S808, the system control unit 50 sets the parameters related to the determination ellipse described later in S809 as follows.
Thx = Thx2
Thy = Th2
(Th2 <Thx2)
(Thx1 <Thx2, Thy1 <Thy2)
Thx2 and Th2 are values previously recorded in the non-volatile memory 56, and satisfy the relationship of Thy2 <Thx2. As will be described later, the reason why this relationship is satisfied is that the vertical direction is the horizontal direction, considering that it is more difficult to move the finger in the vertical direction than the horizontal direction. This is so that the movement of the AF frame can be started with a shorter movement amount than the above.

Further, the relationship of Thx1 <Thx2 and Thy1 <Thy2 is satisfied. That is, the ellipse defined by (Thx2, Thx2) is larger than the ellipse defined by (Thx1, Thy1). As a result, the judgment using the large ellipse defined by (Thx2, Thx2) is longer than the judgment using the small ellipse defined by (Thx1, Thy1) before the AF frame starts moving. It takes a moving distance. In the present embodiment, since the determination using a large ellipse is performed when the finger movement speed is slow, it takes a long movement distance to start the movement of the AF frame as compared with the case where the finger movement speed is high. To. This prevents the AF frame from moving too frequently or the AF frame from moving too large a distance when the user slowly moves his or her finger to carefully move the AF frame. The position of the frame can be fine-tuned. In other words, it realizes reliable movement one by one (for each movement amount).

In S809, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the integrated value Dsum of the movement amount (the integrated value Dsumx of Xave and the integrated value Dsumy of Yave) reaches the edge or the outside of the ellipse for determining whether or not the AF frame can be moved. judge. The determination ellipse is an ellipse defined by the following equation 1.

Dsumx ² / Thx + Dsumy ² / The = 1 ... Equation 1
That is, in S809, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the following equation 2 is satisfied.

Dsumx ² / Thx + Dsumy ² / The ≧ 1 ... Equation 2
If it is determined that the equation 2 is satisfied, the process proceeds to S810. If the equation 2 is not satisfied, that is, if the integrated value Dsum of the movement amount is inside the ellipse for determining whether or not the AF frame can be moved, the AF frame is not moved (movement of the selected position) and is moved. The judgment process ends.

In S810, the system control unit 50 performs the selection position movement process 1 (the AF frame movement process). The selection position movement process 1 will be described later with reference to FIG. 10A.

According to the determination of S809, the threshold value for whether or not to move the AF frame is Thx when the moving direction is right beside, and right beside (parallel to the operation direction) when the finger movement amount is Thx or more. When the AF frame is moved to Thx or less, the AF frame is not moved. If the movement direction is directly above, the threshold value for moving the AF frame is Thy, and if the finger movement amount is Thy or more, the AF frame is directly above (parallel to the operation direction). Is moved, and the AF frame is not moved when the amount of movement of the finger is Thy or less.

In S811, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the ranging area selection mode is set to zone AF. If it is set to zone AF, the process proceeds to S812, and if not (for example, when it is set to automatic selection AF), the movement determination process ends.

In S812, the system control unit 50 sets the parameters related to the determination ellipse described later in S809 as follows.
Thx = Thx3
Thy = Th3
(Th3 <Thx3)
(Thx1 <Thx2 <Thx3, Thy1 <Thy2 <Thy3)
Thx3 and Th3 are values previously recorded in the non-volatile memory 56, and satisfy the relationship of Th3 <Thx3. As will be described later, the reason why this relationship is satisfied is that the vertical direction is the horizontal direction, considering that it is more difficult to move the finger in the vertical direction than the horizontal direction. This is so that the movement of the AF frame can be started with a shorter movement amount than the above.

Further, the relationship of Thx1 <Thx2 <Thx3 and Thy1 <Thy2 <Thy3 is satisfied. That is, the ellipse defined by (Thx1, Thy1) and the ellipse defined by (Thx3, Thy3) are larger than the ellipse defined by (Thx2, Thx2). As a result, the AF frame moves in the judgment using the large ellipse defined in (Thx3, Thx3) rather than the judgment using the small ellipse defined in (Thx1, Thy1), (Thx2, Thy2). It takes a longer travel distance to start. In the present embodiment, when the AF area selection mode is zone AF, the determination is performed using the large ellipse defined in (Thx3, Thx3), so that a long movement distance is required before the movement of the AF frame is started. Needs. The number of selectable positions (selectable zones) in the case of zone AF (9) is smaller than that in the case of 1-point AF (191). Further, even if the zone AF is moved from end to end, the maximum movement amount is 2 units of the movement amount (for example, from the left end zone in FIG. 5 (d) to the right end zone in FIG. 5 (g). When moving). Therefore, there is little demand for moving a lot of selected positions quickly in zone AF. On the other hand, if the movement of the selected position occurs too frequently with a short finger movement amount, there is a big problem that it becomes difficult for the user to select the selected selected position (zone). Therefore, in the present embodiment, when there are few selectable positions as in zone AF, it is easier to fine-tune the selected position by requiring a longer moving distance before starting the movement of the selected position. ing. In other words, it realizes reliable movement one by one (for each movement amount).

The movement amount (movement distance) per movement amount 1 (1 time) of the AF frame in the zone AF varies depending on the selected AF frame and is not constant. For example, when moving to the left once from the state of FIG. 5A, the distance of seven AF points is moved on the display unit 41 in the finder as shown in FIG. 5D. On the other hand, when moving upward once from the state of FIG. 5A, the distance of three AF points is moved on the display unit 41 in the finder as shown in FIG. 5B. Therefore, the relationship between Thx2 and Thx3 is not proportional to the relationship between the unit movement amount D2 (for one AF point) in the case of using Thx2 and the unit movement amount D3 (indefinite in zone AF) in the case of using Thx3. That is, Thx2: Thx3 ≠ D2: D3. The same applies to The2: The3.

In S820, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the current operation mode is the LV mode. If it is in the LV mode, the process proceeds to S821, and if not, the process proceeds to S824.

In S821, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the AF method (AF frame selection mode) is set to face + tracking AF. If the face + tracking AF is set, the process proceeds to S823, and if not (for example, when the live 1-point AF shown in FIG. 6A is set), the process proceeds to S822.

In S822, the system control unit 50 performs the selection position movement process 2 (the AF frame movement process). The selection position movement process 2 will be described later with reference to FIG. 10 (b).

In S823, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the face detected from the LV is in the selected state (for example, the state shown in FIG. 6B). If it is determined that the face is not selected, the process proceeds to S822. If it is determined in S823 that the face is selected, the process proceeds to S805. However, in the processing of S805 to S810 in this case, the y component of the di is ignored and only the x component (moving component in the left-right direction) is used for the processing. In the movement (change) of face selection, the next face may be a short distance (such as a group photo) or a long distance (as shown in FIG. 6B). Therefore, if the algorithm is to select a face at a distance proportional to the movement amount of the slide operation, the operation amount of the slide operation for selecting the next face will change according to the distance between the faces. , The operation feeling is not constant. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the face selection state, the processing of S805 to S810 for moving the selection position one by one each time the integrated value Dsum of the operation amount exceeds the determination ellipse is performed. As a result, the operation amount of the slide operation for selecting the next face becomes a certain amount regardless of the distance between the faces, and the operation feeling of the user can be improved. Even in this case, since the process of comparing with the ellipse for determination having a different size is performed according to the moving speed of the slide operation, it is easy to make fine adjustments by the slide operation of moving slowly. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the face selection state, a process of comparing with a determination ellipse of the same size may be performed regardless of the moving speed of the slide operation.

In S824, the system control unit 50 performs processing according to a slide operation on the AF-ON button 1 in other operation modes. For example, the operation of moving the selection cursor on the menu screen is performed, but the description thereof will be omitted in the present embodiment.

9 (a) to 9 (c) show an operation example when one touch operation (operation from touchdown to touchup) for AF-ON button 1 or 2 is performed with one-point AF. .. Each touch position described with reference to FIGS. 9 (a) to 9 (c) is a touch position on a virtual plane, and the time when the AF-ON button 1 or 2 starts to detect the touch is set as the position P0. It is a relative touch position based on the amount of finger movement detected by the AF-ON button 1 or 2.

In FIG. 9A, a slide operation (movement speed> threshold value TH_V) from the position P0 to the position P2 is performed. By the time 50 msec elapses from the start of the operation, the touch position moves from the position P0 to the position P1 with the movement amount d1 and goes out of the determination ellipse e1 centered on the position P0. Therefore, when 50 msec elapses, the selection position movement process 1 is performed, and the AF frame moves in the direction determined by the angle θ1 with the movement amount 1. Details will be described later, but at this time, the integrated value Dsum of the movement amount di is reset to 0, and the center position of the determination ellipse is reset to the position P1 by the selection position movement process 1 (integrated value Dsum and the determination ellipse). Coordinate system is reset).

Similarly, in FIG. 9A, the touch position moves from the position P1 to the position P2 with the movement amount d2 during the 50 msec period from the time when 50 msec elapses to the time when 100 msec elapses, and the determination ellipse e1 centered on the position P1. Go out of. Therefore, even after 100 msec has elapsed, the AF frame moves in the direction determined by the angle θ2 with the movement amount of 1. Also at this time, the integrated value Dsum is reset to 0, and the center position of the determination ellipse is reset to the position P2 (the integrated value Dsum and the coordinate system of the determination ellipse are reset).

In FIG. 9B, a slide operation (movement speed> threshold value TH_V) from the position P0 to the position P4 is performed. By the time 50 msec elapses from the start of the operation, the touch position moves from the position P0 to the position P1 with the movement amount d1. The movement amount d1 in FIG. 9B is equal to the movement amount d1 in FIG. 9A, but in FIG. 9B, the movement direction of the touch position with the movement amount d1 is different from that in FIG. 9A, and is 50 msec. The touch position P1 at the time of lapse is inside the determination ellipse e1. Therefore, when 50 msec has elapsed, the selection position movement process 1 is not performed and the AF frame does not move. In this way, since it is determined using the ellipse whether or not to move the AF frame, the AF frame may or may not move depending on the movement direction of the touch position even if the movement amount di of the touch position is the same. To do. Further, even if the same slide distance is slid by one slide operation (that is, a slide operation over 100 msec or more) over a plurality of times of the acquisition period (50 msec) of the movement amount of the touch position, AF is performed depending on the movement direction of the touch position. The amount of movement of the frame is different. For example, when a slide operation is performed in which the operation amount (total movement distance of the touch position in one touch operation) is the distance M in parallel with the X axis, the first movement amount (for example, 3) is performed. ) Moves the position of the AF frame to the right. On the other hand, when the slide operation is performed parallel to the Y-axis with the same operation amount as the above-mentioned distance M, the position of the AF frame is the position of the AF frame with a second movement amount (for example, 5) larger than the first movement amount. Moves upwards.

Then, in FIG. 9B, the touch position moves from the position P1 to the position P2 with the movement amount d2 during the 50 msec period from the time when 50 msec elapses to the time when 100 msec elapses, and the determination ellipse e1 centered on the position P0. I go outside. Therefore, the selection position movement process 1 is performed only after 100 msec has elapsed, and the AF frame moves with the movement amount 1. The movement direction of the AF frame is determined by the line segment (broken line in the figure) connecting the position P0 and the position P2 indicating the integrated value Dsum obtained by integrating the movement amounts d1 and d2, and the angle θ1 formed by the Y axis. At this time, the integrated value Dsum is reset to 0, and the center position of the determination ellipse is reset to the position P2 (the integrated value Dsum and the coordinate system of the determination ellipse are reset).

Similarly, in FIG. 9B, the touch position moves from the position P2 to the position P3 with the movement amount d3 by the elapse of 150 msec, but does not go out of the determination ellipse e1 centered on the position P2. , The AF frame does not move after 150 msec has elapsed. Then, by the time 200 msec elapses, the touch position moves from the position P3 to the position P4 with the movement amount d4 and goes out of the determination ellipse e1 centered on the position P2, so that the AF frame moves when 200 msec elapses. Move with quantity 1. The movement direction of the AF frame is determined by the line segment (broken line in the figure) connecting the position P2 and the position P4 indicating the integrated value Dsum obtained by integrating the movement amounts d3 and d4, and the angle θ2 formed by the Y axis. At this time, the integrated value Dsum is reset to 0, and the center position of the determination ellipse is reset to the position P4 (the integrated value Dsum and the coordinate system of the determination ellipse are reset).

In FIG. 9C, the slide operation from the position P0 to the position P5 is performed. By the time 50 msec elapses from the start of the operation, the touch position moves from the position P0 to the position P1 with a movement amount d1 and a movement speed faster than the threshold value TH_V. Similarly, in the 50 msec period from the time when 50 msec has elapsed to the time when 100 msec has elapsed, the touch position moves from the position P1 to the position P2 with a movement amount d2 and a movement speed faster than the threshold value TH_V. Therefore, at the time when 50 msec has elapsed and when 100 msec has elapsed, whether or not to move the AF frame is for determining Thx = Thx1 and Thy = Thy1, as in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b). Judgment is made using the ellipse e1, and each AF frame moves with a movement amount of 1.

After that, since the touch position moves at a moving speed slower than the threshold value TH_V, whether or not to move the AF frame is determined using the determination ellipse e2 of Thx = Thx2 and Thy = Th2. Specifically, during the period from the time when 100 msec elapses to the time when 150 msec elapses, the touch position moves from the position P2 to the position P3 with the movement amount d3, but does not go out of the determination ellipse e2 centered on the position P2. Therefore, the AF frame does not move after 150 msec has elapsed. Similarly, during the 50 msec period from the time when 150 msec elapses to the time when 200 msec elapses, the touch position moves from the position P3 to the position P4 with the movement amount d4, but does not go out of the judgment ellipse e2 centered on the position P2. , The AF frame does not move after 200 msec has elapsed. Then, in the 50 msec period from the time when 200 msec has elapsed to the time when 250 msec has elapsed, the touch position moves from the position P4 to the position P5 with the movement amount d5, and goes out of the determination ellipse e2 centered on the position P2. Therefore, when 250 msec has elapsed, the selection position movement process 1 is performed, and the AF frame moves with the movement amount 1. The movement direction of the AF frame is determined by the line segment (broken line in the figure) connecting the position P2 and the position P5 indicating the integrated value Dsum in which the movement amounts d3 to d5 are integrated, and the angle θ3 formed by the Y axis. At this time, the integrated value Dsum is reset to 0, and the center position of the determination ellipse is reset to the position P5 (the integrated value Dsum and the coordinate system of the determination ellipse are reset).

If the determination ellipse e1 is always used, the touch position (position P4) appears outside the determination ellipse e1 centered on the position P2, so that the AF frame moves after 200 msec has elapsed. In the present embodiment, when the moving speed is slow, the judgment ellipse e2, which is larger than the judgment ellipse e1, is used to prevent such movement. As a result, the movement responsiveness of the AF frame is intentionally lowered, making it easier to make fine adjustments to the AF frame.

By the way, in FIG. 9C, the touch position largely goes out from the determination ellipse e1 depending on the movement amount d2 (the distance from the position P1 to the position P2 is more than twice the distance from the position P1 to the edge of the determination ellipse e1). is there). However, the movement amount of the AF frame at the timing of the position P2 is the movement amount 1. In this way, the amount of one movement of the AF frame by the selection position movement process 1 is the amount of movement of the finger beyond the judgment ellipse no matter how much the finger moves during one acquisition period (50 msec) of the movement amount di. It is fixed (regardless of the amount of movement of). That is, the amount of movement of the finger and the amount of movement of the AF frame are not in a proportional relationship. For this reason, one AF frame is moved for each quick slide operation that ends within one acquisition period (50 msec) of the movement amount di (for example, if the slide operation is performed three times quickly in small steps, three AF frames are moved. (Move by minutes) can be used. As a result, the AF frames can be moved one by one quickly and surely. Even a user who prefers to slide his / her finger as many times as he / she wants to move the AF frame can move the AF frame one point at a time.

On the other hand, it is also possible to continuously move the AF frame significantly by one slide operation over two or more acquisition periods (100 msec or more) of the movement amount di. If the sliding operation is performed for a long time at a certain speed, one AF frame can be moved every 50 msec, and the AF frame can be greatly moved by one sliding operation.

The velocity threshold as shown in FIG. 9C may be set in a shape different from that of the ellipse. For example, the threshold value may be set by a circle having a different size for each movement speed so that the same threshold value is used regardless of the movement direction of the slide operation.

Even in the case where the face is selected by the face + tracking AF, it is determined whether or not to move the AF frame by using the determination ellipse e1 and the determination ellipse e2 as in the case of the one-point AF. In the case of zone AF, it is determined whether or not to move the AF frame by using the determination ellipse of Thx = Thx3 and Thy = Th3. In the case of zone AF, the judgment ellipse is not switched according to the moving speed.

FIG. 10A shows a flowchart of the selected position movement process 1. This process is a detail of the process of S810 of FIG. 8 described above. Further, this process is realized by expanding the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 to the system memory 52 and executing the program by the system control unit 50.

In S1001, the system control unit 50 calculates the angle θ formed by the vector direction of the integrated value Dsum (two-dimensional coordinate value having a directional component) of the movement amount. In the case of FIG. 9A, when 50 msec has elapsed from the start of the operation, the movement amount d1 is set as the integrated value Dsum, and the angle θ1 formed by the integrated value Dsum (the Y direction (vertical direction) in the direction from the position P0 to the position P1). The angle with respect to) is calculated, and the integrated value Dsum is reset to 0. Then, when 100 msec has elapsed, the angle θ2 formed by the integrated value Dsum is calculated with the movement amount d2 as the integrated value Dsum. In the case of FIG. 9B, the selection position movement process 1 is not performed when 50 msec elapses, and when 100 msec elapses, the sum (broken line) of the movement amount d1 and the movement amount d2 is taken as the integrated value Dsum, and the integrated value Dsum The angle θ1 to be formed is calculated, and the integrated value Dsum is reset to 0. Then, the selected position movement process 1 is not performed when 150 msec elapses, and the angle θ2 formed by the integrated value Dsum is calculated by using the sum (broken line) of the movement amount d3 and the movement amount d4 as the integrated value Dsum when 200 msec elapses. To. Similarly, in the case of FIG. 9C, the angles θ1, the angle θ2, and the angle θ3 are calculated at the time points after 50 msec, 100 msec, and 250 msec.

In S1002, the system control unit 50 determines the moving direction of the AF frame (selected position) based on the angle θ calculated in S1001. In the present embodiment, the angle θ is converted into any of eight directions of up, down, left, right, upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right as follows. The number and directions of movement direction candidates are not particularly limited.

-22.5 ° (337.5 °) <θ ≤ 22.5 ° ... Moving direction: Up 22.5 ° <θ ≤ 67.5 ° ... Moving direction: Upper right 67.5 ° <θ ≤ 112.5 ° ... Moving direction: Right 112.5 ° <θ ≤ 157.5 ° ... Moving direction: Lower right 157.5 ° <θ ≤ 202.5 ° ... Moving direction: Lower 202.5 ° <θ ≤ 247.5 ° ... Moving direction: Lower left 247.5 ° <θ ≤ 292.5 ° ... Moving direction: Left 292.5 ° <θ ≤ 337.5 ° ... Moving direction: Upper left In S1003, the system control unit 50 moves the AF frame. A fixed value of 1 is set as. The movement amount of the AF frame does not have to be 1, and the user may be able to specify (set) another movement amount in advance.

In S1004, the system control unit 50 sets the movement amount 1 in S1003 in the movement direction (one of the eight directions of up, down, left, right, upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right) determined in S1002. Move the AF frame. For example, when the AF frame is moved from the state of FIG. 4A to the upper right with a movement amount of 1, the state of FIG. 4B is obtained. If the AF frame is at the end of the row or column of the AF point group, the AF frame does not move in the direction beyond the end (it hits at the end).

In S1005, the system control unit 50 resets the integrated value Dsum of the movement amount to 0.

FIG. 10B shows a flowchart of the selected position movement process 2. This process is a detail of the process of S822 of FIG. 8 described above. Further, this process is realized by expanding the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 to the system memory 52 and executing the program by the system control unit 50.

In S1011, the system control unit 50 displays the movement amount di, that is, the movement amount (X = Xave, Y = Yave) [μm] in consideration of the aspect ratio and size of the live view image (LV image). Convert to the relative movement amount (X', Y') of the coordinate system of the image.

In S1012, the system control unit 50 determines the movement amount of the AF frame by multiplying the movement amount (X', Y') of the AF frame by the coefficient value. Specifically, the final value X'is determined by multiplying the value X'obtained in S1011 by the coefficient Kx, and the final value Y'by the coefficient Ky is multiplied by the value Y'obtained in S1011. Determine the value Y'. When the coefficient value = 1, the processing of S1012 may not be performed, and the coefficient values Kx and Ky may be any value as long as they are real values.

In S1013, the system control unit 50 relatively moves the AF frame with the movement amount (X', Y') determined in S1012. By the slide operation to the upper right, for example, the AF frame is moved (movement of the selected position) as described in FIG. 6A.

In the selection position movement process 2, the AF frame is moved (movement of the selection position) in proportion to the movement distance of the slide operation even if the movement distance of the slide operation does not exceed the threshold value of the ellipse described in S809 of FIG. .. For example, in the LV mode, when the AF frame selection mode (designated mode) is live 1-point AF (arbitrary selection) regardless of whether or not a face is detected, the selection position is moved according to the slide operation. Process 2 is performed. Therefore, in live 1-point AF (arbitrary selection), when the slide operation is performed to the right in parallel with the X-axis, the integrated value of the movement distance of the slide operation is the elliptical judgment threshold (right in parallel with the X-axis). , The AF frame is moved (moved of the selected position) even if the distance Thx1) is not exceeded. On the other hand, in the LV mode, when the AF frame selection mode (designation mode) is a face that selects a face detected from the LV image + tracking priority AF, S823 is displayed if the face is detected and selected. It becomes Yes and proceeds to S805. Then, after performing the processes of S805 to S808, when it is determined in S809 that the determination threshold value of the ellipse is exceeded, the selection position movement process 1 according to the slide operation is performed. Therefore, in the face + tracking priority AF, when the slide operation is performed to the right in parallel with the X axis, the integrated value of the movement distance exceeds the elliptical judgment threshold value (Thx1 or Thx2 because it is right in parallel with the X axis). Unless otherwise, the AF frame is not moved, and when the elliptical judgment threshold is exceeded, the AF frame is moved. That is, the subject (face) to be selected is changed. In the AF frame selection mode in which another type of subject (for example, pupil) that can be detected in the LV mode can be selected, the same processing as the above-mentioned face + tracking priority AF may be performed. That is, when it is determined in S809 that the determination threshold value of the ellipse has been exceeded, the selection position movement process 1 according to the slide operation may be performed.

Using FIGS. 11 (a) to 11 (e), the problem in the sliding operation of the AF-ON button and the use of an ellipse for the determination of the present embodiment (the amount of movement in the vertical direction is smaller than that in the horizontal direction). An example of the effect of (starting the movement of the AF frame) will be described.

FIG. 11A shows a user holding the first grip portion 101 with his / her right hand 1100, holding the camera 100 in a horizontal position, and operating the AF-ON button 1. FIG. 11B shows a user holding the second grip portion 102 with his / her right hand 1100, holding the camera 100 in the vertical position, and operating the AF-ON button 2. FIG. 11C shows a state in which the user holds the first grip portion 101 with the right hand 1100, holds the camera 100 in the vertical position, and operates the AF-ON button 1. In any of FIGS. 11 (a) to 11 (c), the user operates the AF-ON button with the thumb 1101 of the right hand 1100.

FIG. 11D shows how a lateral slide operation (a lateral slide operation, specifically, a right slide operation) is performed on the AF-ON button. The state 1141 is the start state of the horizontal slide operation, the state 1142 is the state during the horizontal slide operation, and the state 1143 is the end state of the horizontal slide operation. As in the states 1141 to 1143, the lateral slide operation is an operation in which an arc is drawn with the base of the knuckle as a fulcrum. The lateral slide operation is relatively easy to perform (for example, it is easy to maintain the contact pressure and the contact portion with the AF-ON button), and the lateral slide operation tends to detect a large amount of movement of the thumb 1101. In particular, in the case of a device such as OTP that determines the movement of the finger based on the difference in the image pattern of the finger, the characteristics of the human fingerprint are displayed during the lateral slide operation that makes it easy to maintain the contact pressure and the contact portion with the AF-ON button. It is stable and easy to detect, and it is easy to detect horizontal slide operation.

FIG. 11E shows how a vertical slide operation (a vertical slide operation, specifically, an upward slide operation) is performed on the AF-ON button. In FIG. 11 (e), the upper view is a schematic view when the AF-ON button is viewed from the back side (front side with respect to the operation surface of the AF-ON button), and the lower view is a side view. It is a schematic diagram when the AF-ON button is seen from the side. The state 1151 is the start state of the vertical slide operation, the state 1152 is the state during the vertical slide operation, and the state 1153 is the end state of the vertical slide operation. As in the states 1151 to 1153, the vertical slide operation is an operation such as bending or extending the knuckle. It is relatively difficult to perform the vertical slide operation (for example, it is difficult to maintain the contact pressure and the contact portion with the AF-ON button), and it is difficult to detect a large amount of movement of the thumb 1101 in the vertical slide operation. Especially in the case of a device such as OTP that determines the movement of the finger based on the difference in the image pattern of the finger, the characteristics of the human fingerprint are exhibited during the vertical slide operation in which the contact pressure to the AF-ON button and the contact portion are difficult to maintain. It is difficult to detect stably and it is difficult to detect vertical slide operation. In FIG. 11 (e), the portion of the thumb 1101 near the fingertip touches the AF-ON button to start the vertical slide operation (side view of the state 1151). Then, the contact portion with the AF-ON button changes so as to move away from the fingertip of the thumb 1101, and the vertical slide operation ends (side view of states 1152, 1153).

Therefore, if the movement amount (finger movement amount; threshold value) for starting the movement of the AF frame is the same for the horizontal slide operation and the vertical slide operation, the AF frame is difficult to move in the vertical slide operation, and the user can perform the vertical slide operation. Makes me feel that it is difficult to do.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described in S809, an ellipse long in the horizontal direction is used as a threshold value, and the AF frame starts moving in the vertical direction with a smaller amount of movement than in the horizontal direction, and the AF frame is used in the same amount. The amount of movement of the finger in the vertical direction is smaller than that in the horizontal direction. For example, in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the AF frame with the same movement amount 2 is moved, but the movement amount (finger movement) is smaller in FIG. 9A, which has a larger vertical component of the movement amount. The AF frame moves by two at the distance). As a result, the user can perform slide operations in various directions with the same operation feeling. It is sufficient that the movement of the AF frame is started in the vertical direction with a smaller amount of movement than in the horizontal direction, and the determination is not limited to the determination using the ellipse as in the present embodiment.

The electronic device of the present invention is not limited to an electronic device equipped with an AF-ON button, as long as it is a device that detects the movement of an operating body (finger or pen) and moves an indicator (selected position). The invention is applicable. For example, the present invention is also used when the indicators such as the pointing cursor and the item selection cursor displayed on the display of the notebook PC are relatively moved in response to the slide operation by the finger (operation body) touching the touch pad of the notebook PC. Is applicable. Further, in the imaging device, when the indicator indicating the AF point selection position displayed in the optical viewfinder or the electronic viewfinder is moved in response to the slide operation by the touch operation of the finger (operation body) with respect to the touch panel type rear display. It is also applicable to. The present invention is not limited to the touch operation, and the present invention can also be applied to the case where the indicator is relatively moved in response to the operation of the joystick that tilts the member to indicate the direction, the rotary dial, or the like. The present invention can also be applied to devices such as wearable devices that can be equipped with a small number of operating members. Further, it can be applied to a device that detects a movement of a user's hand (operating body) such as a spatial gesture in a non-contact manner and moves an indicator displayed on a projector, for example, according to the movement.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned various controls described as those performed by the system control unit 50 may be performed by one hardware, or a plurality of hardware (for example, a plurality of processors and circuits) share the processing to be a device. The whole control may be performed.

Further, although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiment thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various embodiments within the scope of the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Furthermore, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and each embodiment can be combined as appropriate.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the image pickup apparatus has been described as an example, but this is not limited to this example, and any electronic device capable of detecting a moving operation can be applied. For example, the present invention can be applied to personal computers, PDAs, mobile phone terminals, portable image viewers, printer devices, digital photo frames, music players, game machines, electronic book readers, and the like. The present invention is also applicable to video players, display devices (including projection devices), tablet terminals, smartphones, AI speakers, home appliances, in-vehicle devices, and the like.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by the processing to be performed. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Claims (16)

A detection means that detects a movement operation that involves the movement of the operating body,
Subject detection means that detects a specific subject from an image,
It is a control means for controlling so that the selected position on the image can be changed according to the movement operation.
When the designated mode of the selected position is the first designated mode not related to the specific subject detected by the subject detecting means, the moving operation is performed according to the moving operation detected by the detecting means. Even if the integrated value of the operation amount does not exceed the first threshold value, the selected position is changed.
When the selection mode of the selection position is the second designation mode for selecting the subject detected by the subject detection means, the operation amount by the movement operation is integrated according to the movement operation detected by the detection means. An electronic device comprising a control means for controlling so as to change a subject to be selected when the value exceeds the first threshold value. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means detects an operation in which the operating body moves while touching the operation surface. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the selected position is a focus adjustment position. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the specific subject is a face or eyes. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image is a live view image. In the case of the second designated mode, the control means becomes a selection target when the integrated value of the operation amount in one or more acquisition periods in the movement operation exceeds the first threshold value. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the subject is controlled to move. When the integrated value of the operation amount in one or more acquisition periods in one movement operation exceeds the first threshold value, the control means reaches the acquisition period including the time point when the first threshold value is exceeded. Of the integrated values of the above, regardless of the amount exceeding the threshold value, the subject to be selected is changed from the subject selected before the change to the subject closest to the moving operation direction side. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the electronic device is controlled. The detection means is characterized in that it detects a movement operation of an operation member arranged at a position that can be operated by the thumb of a hand having a grip portion for holding the electronic device with respect to the operation surface. The electronic device according to any one of 7. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electronic device further includes an image pickup means, and the image is an image captured by the image pickup means. It further has a shutter button for instructing shooting by the imaging means and an operating member.
The detection means detects the movement operation with respect to the operation surface of the operation member, and
The operating member is arranged at a position where the moving operation can be performed with respect to the operating surface with the thumb of the right hand when the electronic device is held by the right hand in a state where the shutter button can be pressed with the index finger of the right hand. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the electronic device is provided. The electronic device according to claim 8 or 10, wherein the operating member is an operating member capable of a pushing operation different from the moving operation. When the selection mode of the selection position is the second designation mode for selecting the subject detected by the subject detection means, the control means
When the integrated value of the operation amount by the movement operation detected by the detection means exceeds the first threshold value, the display means is displayed without passing through a position unrelated to the subject detected by the subject detection means. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein an indicator indicating a displayed selection target is controlled to move. When the selection mode of the selection position is the second designation mode for selecting the subject detected by the subject detection means, the control means
When the speed of the movement operation detected by the detection means is faster than the predetermined speed, the subject to be selected is changed when the integrated value of the operation amount by the movement operation exceeds the first threshold value.
When the speed of the movement operation detected by the detection means is slower than the predetermined speed, if the integrated value of the operation amount by the movement operation exceeds the second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, the selection target is selected. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the electronic device is controlled so as to change the subject. A detection step that detects a movement operation that involves the movement of the operating body,
A subject detection step that detects a specific subject from an image,
It is a control step that controls so that the selected position on the image can be changed according to the movement operation.
When the designated mode of the selected position is the first designated mode not related to the specific subject detected by the subject detection step, the movement operation is performed according to the movement operation detected in the detection step. Even if the integrated value of the operation amount does not exceed the first threshold value, the selected position is changed.
When the selection mode of the selection position is the second designation mode for selecting the subject detected by the subject detection step, the operation amount of the movement operation is integrated according to the movement operation detected in the detection step. A method for controlling an electronic device, which comprises a control step for controlling the subject to be selected when the value exceeds the first threshold value. A program for causing a computer to function as each means of the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 13. A computer-readable recording medium containing a program for causing the computer to function as each means of the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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