JP2021145240A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an imaging apparatus capable of displaying a captured image, the imaging apparatus easy for a user to carry and operate.SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus has a body, an optical system, and a display unit. The display unit is fixed to the body at an angle inclined to the optical axis of the optical system.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging device that is miniaturized and convenient to carry.

In recent years, image pickup devices such as cameras have become smaller, and in order to realize a smaller image pickup device, an image pickup device having a special shape has been designed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a small cylindrical camera. The camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a member for being fixed to a wall or the like.

Appeal 24-16194

However, although the camera described in Patent Document 1 describes a fixed installation method, it is not supposed to be carried by a user. However, at present, there are many scenes in which a user needs to carry an image pickup device, and there is also a demand for a miniaturized image pickup device that is easy for the user to carry and hold.

Further, the camera described in Patent Document 1 does not have a function of displaying an image, and the image captured by the user cannot be observed without an external device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device that can be carried by a user to observe captured images and is easy to operate.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a main body, an optical system, and a display, and the display is fixed to the main body in a state of being tilted with respect to the optical axis of the optical system. An imaging device characterized by this is provided.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the captured image can be displayed on the imaging device, and the user can easily carry and operate the imaging device.

It is a figure for demonstrating the appearance of the image pickup apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the image pickup apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the imaging process of the imaging apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the posture of the image pickup apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the reproduction process of the image pickup apparatus in embodiment of this invention.

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the appearance of the image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment. 1 (a) is a front perspective view of the imaging device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 1 (b) is a rear perspective view of the imaging device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1 (c) is the present embodiment. It is the bottom side perspective view of the image pickup apparatus in.

The image pickup apparatus 100 has a main body 101. The main body 101 has a smooth curved shape so that the user can easily hold it. A lens unit 103 and a display unit 105, which will be described later, are arranged at both ends of the main body. An operation unit 102 is arranged on the main body 101. The user operates the operation unit 102 and issues a command to the image pickup apparatus 100. The specific operation method will be described later.

In FIG. 1, it is shown that the operation unit 102 is provided with one button, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second button is arranged on the side surface of the main body 101 opposite to the first button. Alternatively, a button may be provided near the lens unit 103, which will be described later. The imaging device 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a constricted shape on the side surface of the operation unit 102 opposite to the button so that it can be easily held by a hand.

The lens unit 103 is arranged at one end of the main body 101. The lens unit 103 includes an optical member and the like, and is for collecting incident light from a subject on an image pickup device 204 (not shown in FIG. 1).

The lens support portion 104 is arranged in a circular shape so as to cover the outermost lens among the lenses included in the lens unit 103, and is for protecting the lens unit 103. The lens support 104 is designed so that the image pickup device 100 can be stably upright when the lens support 104 is placed downward in the direction of gravity. Since the lens support portion 104 also has a function of preventing impact, it is preferable that the lens support portion 104 is made of a member such as rubber.

An LED may be provided inside the lens support portion 104, and the LED has a function of notifying the start of an imaging operation or the like. For example, the LED may be designed to illuminate when the power of the image pickup apparatus 100 is turned on.

The display unit 105 has a substantially rectangular shape and is arranged on the side of the main body 101 opposite to the lens support unit 104. The display unit 105 is a liquid crystal monitor or the like, and is for displaying a captured image / moving image, a GUI screen constituting a GUI (Graphical User Interface), or the like. Further, the display unit 105 may also be used as a touch panel, and complements the operation function of the operation unit 102. In the present embodiment, the display unit 105 is arranged so as not to be perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the optical system. The arrangement angle of the display unit 105 is about 75 degrees with respect to the optical axis direction, and is designed so that the user can easily observe the display unit 105, which will be described in detail later.

The display unit 105 may control the brightness of the display in order to prevent the display from becoming difficult to see due to reflection when the ambient light strongly hits the display unit 105. Specifically, the illuminance detection unit 210, which will be described later, detects the brightness of the ambient ambient light, and the control unit 202 controls so that the brighter the ambient light, the brighter the display of the display unit 105.

The main body 101 is provided with a strap hole 106, and various straps can be attached to the main body 101 through the strap hole 106.

The terminal portion 107 is arranged in the main body portion 101. The terminal portion 107 is, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal or the like, and by connecting the USB cable to the terminal portion 107, charging or data transmission to the image pickup apparatus 100 can be performed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the structure of the image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The power supply unit 201 is a battery or the like, and supplies electric power to each unit of the image pickup apparatus 100.

The control unit 202 is a CPU or the like, and controls each unit of the image pickup apparatus 100 according to a program stored in the non-volatile memory included in the storage unit 207 described later.

The detection unit 203 includes an illuminance detection unit 210, a posture detection unit 211, a holding detection unit 212, and the like.

The illuminance detection unit 210 is an illuminance sensor, and may be installed on the bottom surface near the lens support unit 104 or on the side surface of the main body unit 101 as an example. The illuminance detection unit 210 detects the illuminance of the surrounding environment. As an example of the operation of the illuminance detection unit 210, for example, the control unit 202 controls the power on of the image pickup apparatus 100 based on the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection unit 210. Specifically, if the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection unit 210 is equal to or higher than a certain level, the image pickup apparatus 100 is activated. By providing such an illuminance detection unit 210, for example, when the user takes out the image pickup device 100 from a dark environment such as in a bag or a case, the image pickup device 100 automatically performs due to the change in the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection unit 210. Start up. Such an implementation method is useful when the operation unit 102 as shown in FIG. 1 is extremely simplified.

Further, a plurality of illuminance sensors may be provided. For example, the illuminance sensor may be provided on both the bottom surface of the main body 101 near the lens support 104 and the side surface of the main body 101. In this case, the posture of the image pickup apparatus 100 can be determined based on the difference in illuminance detected by the plurality of illuminance sensors. For example, when the detection result of the illuminance sensor arranged on the bottom surface near the lens support portion 104 is dark and the detection result of the illuminance sensor arranged on the side surface is bright, the image pickup device 100 has the bottom surface close to the lens support portion 104 facing downward. Most likely placed. On the contrary, when the detection result of the illuminance sensor arranged on the bottom surface near the lens support portion 104 is bright and the detection result of the illuminance sensor arranged on the side surface is dark, it is highly possible that the user is holding the side surface. If the detection results of all the illuminance sensors are dark, it is highly possible that they have been put in a bag as described above.

The attitude detection unit 211 includes a gravity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and the like, and detects the attitude, acceleration, angular velocity, and the like of the image pickup apparatus 100. As an example of the operation of the posture detection unit 211, for example, the display unit 105 changes the display of the image based on the information in the direction of gravity detected by the posture detection unit 211. Further, the control unit 202 controls the power on of the image pickup apparatus 100 based on the information of the angular velocity detected by the attitude detection unit 211. Specifically, for example, when the user takes out the stationary image pickup device 100 placed on the shelf, the image pickup device 100 is automatically activated by the change in the acceleration detected by the posture detection unit 211. Similar to the example of the illuminance detection unit 210, such an implementation method is useful when the operation unit 102 as shown in FIG. 1 is extremely simplified.

The holding detection unit 212 is a pressure sensor or the like, and is for complementing the operation function of the operation unit 102. For example, a pressure sensor is provided on the side surface of the main body 101, the user grips the side surface of the main body 101, and the pressure sensor detects the pressure to activate the imaging device 100.

The image pickup device 204 is, for example, a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD or CMOS, and is an image pickup means that converts an image of a subject formed by an optical system into an electric signal to generate an image pickup image.

The lens driving unit 205 mechanically drives the lens unit 103.

The image processing unit 206 performs development processing such as debayer processing from the signal from the image sensor 204 to generate image data. The image processing unit 206 may be provided so as to be built in the control unit 202.

The storage unit 207 is a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, and may be a built-in memory or a circumscribed memory, and stores an captured image or the like.

The wireless communication unit 208 is built in the main body 101 and can perform communication methods such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (registered trademark), and can communicate image data with an external device such as a smartphone to transmit and receive. ..

The notification unit 209 is for notifying the user about the operation of the image pickup apparatus 100 in addition to the display of the display unit 105. For example, the LED provided inside the lens support portion 104 described above is included in the notification unit 209, and as an example, when the user takes a self-portrait using the image pickup device 100, the notification unit 209 notifies the user of the imaging operation. ..

When the power supply unit 201 starts supplying electric power to each unit of the image pickup apparatus 100, the operation state is entered. In the operating state, one or a plurality of imaging, playback, and transfer processes described later can be performed. In addition, a sleep mode (low power dormant state) that consumes less power is also provided. The image pickup apparatus 100 can be kept in the standby state while consuming less power by entering the sleep mode manually or automatically by the user. As an example, if the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection unit 210 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the image pickup device 100 is stored in a bag or the like, and the image pickup device 100 automatically enters the sleep mode. Further, the user can operate the image pickup device 100 in the sleep mode to exit the image pickup device 100 from the sleep mode. Similarly, if the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection unit 210 is equal to or higher than another predetermined threshold value, the imaging device 100 may be designed to automatically exit the sleep mode.

Next, the processing of imaging, reproduction, and transfer of the imaging device 100 will be described with reference to the drawings. When each of the imaging device 100 performs imaging, reproduction, and transfer, the following refers to an imaging mode, a reproduction mode, and a transfer mode. However, the imaging mode, the reproduction mode, and the transfer mode are not mutually exclusive processes, and the control unit 202 can perform a plurality of simultaneous processes.

(Imaging mode)
Hereinafter, an imaging mode in which imaging processing is performed using the imaging device 100 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the imaging process of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In step S301, the detection unit 203 performs a detection process of whether or not the imaging preparation operation for starting imaging has started.

The detection process in step S301 includes, for example, the following examples. The posture of the image pickup apparatus 100 is detected based on the output result of the posture detection unit 211 provided in the detection unit 203.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the posture of the image pickup apparatus in the present embodiment. FIG. 4A shows how the imaging device stands upright. 4 (b) and 4 (c) show a user holding an image pickup device. In FIG. 4 (b), the imaging device is located lower than the user's eyes (low-angle imaging), and in FIG. 4 (c), the imaging device is located higher than the user's eyes (high-angle imaging). In FIGS. 4B and 4C, it can be seen that the display unit 105 can be easily observed by the user by arranging the display unit 105 so as not to be perpendicular to the optical axis direction. The buttons provided on the operation unit 102 can be operated more conveniently by being arranged according to the position of the thumb when the user grips the image pickup device 100.

When the posture detection unit 211 provided in the detection unit 203 detects a horizontal state (the optical axis is parallel to the ground) as shown in FIG. 4 (b) or FIG. 4 (c), the imaging preparation start operation is disclosed. It may be judged that it was done. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 4A, if the posture of the image pickup apparatus 100 is vertical, it is determined that the image pickup preparation operation has not started. However, the "horizontal state" referred to here does not necessarily have to be strictly parallel to the ground (perpendicular to the direction of gravity), and even if the imaging device 100 is slightly tilted, the detection unit 203 detects it as a "horizontal state". You may.

The method for detecting the start of the imaging preparation operation may be the one described in the above-described description of the detection unit 203, which will be described in detail here.

For example, it may be possible to detect whether or not the user holds the image pickup apparatus 100 based on the output result of the holding detection unit 212 provided in the detection unit 203. If it is determined that the image is being held, it is determined that the image pickup preparation operation has been started, and if it is not held, it may be determined that the image pickup preparation operation has not been started.

Further, the start of the imaging preparation operation may be detected based on the output result of the illuminance detection unit 210 provided in the detection unit 203. Specifically, the illuminance detection unit 210 detects the ambient brightness of the image pickup apparatus 100, and determines whether or not the brightness has changed from a dark state to a bright state. When the brightness changes, it is considered that the user has taken out the image pickup device 100 from the bag or the case for taking an image with the image pickup device 100, so that it can be determined that the image pickup preparation operation has started.

Further, based on the output result of the posture detection unit 211 provided in the detection unit 203, the movement amount and the movement feature amount of the image pickup apparatus 100 may be detected to detect the start of the image pickup preparation operation.

Further, the method is not limited to the above-described method, and the imaging preparation operation may be determined as follows by further changing the configuration of the detection unit 203.

For example, the detection unit 203 may be further provided with a proximity detection sensor. As the proximity detection sensor, a known sensor such as an inductive type, a capacitance type, an ultrasonic type, an electromagnetic wave type, or an infrared type may be used. The control unit 202 may determine whether or not the imaging preparation operation has been started based on the detection information of the proximity detection sensor provided in the detection unit 203.

Further, when there is a case or cover for accommodating the image pickup device 100, it is detected whether or not the image pickup device 100 is taken out from the case or cover, and the start of the image pickup preparation operation is detected based on the result. You may. For example, the storage case or cover is provided with a magnet for detection, and the detection unit 203 of the image pickup apparatus 100 is provided with a magnetic force sensor. With the configuration of the magnet and the magnetic force sensor, it can be determined from the change in the magnetic force detected by the magnetic force sensor that the image pickup device 100 is taken out from the case or the cover and the image pickup preparation operation is started. The storage case and cover may be in any form. For example, it may be a cylindrical case that matches the shape of the imaging device 100. Further, it may be a cover that covers the lens unit 103 of the image pickup apparatus 100. In the case of a cover that covers the lens unit 103, imaging may be performed by simply shifting the position of the cover that covers the lens unit 103 without removing the main body of the image pickup device 100. In that case, a magnet for detecting the imaging preparation operation is arranged on the cover portion, and the shift of the cover position is detected by the change of the magnetic force.

It should be noted that all the methods for determining the imaging preparation operation described above are not exclusive to each other and may be used in parallel. For example, by using the illuminance detection unit 210 and the holding detection unit 212 together, the power is turned on when the user takes out the image pickup device 100 from the bag, and the user holds the pressure sensor provided in the image pickup device 100 to supply the power supply. May be designed to be erased.

In step S302, the control unit 202 determines whether or not the imaging preparation operation has started based on the detection result of step S301. If it has started, the process proceeds to step S303, and if it has not started, the process returns to step S301.

In step S303, the display unit 105 displays the live view image.

Further, as described above, since the display unit 105 is arranged so as not to be perpendicular to the optical axis direction, when low-angle imaging is performed by the holding method as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the live view is obtained. The visibility of the image is good. However, if high-angle imaging is performed with the holding method as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the visibility deteriorates. Therefore, when it is detected that the user intends to perform high-angle imaging, a notification prompting the main body of the imaging device 100 to be turned upside down is given through the display unit 105 or the notification unit 209. When the control unit 202 detects high-angle imaging, the control unit 202 uses the wireless communication unit 208 to transmit a live view image to an external display device so that the live view image is viewed on the external display device. May be good. Whether or not high-angle imaging is performed is determined by providing a face detection sensor for detecting the user's face on the display unit 105 side based on the position of the face detected by the face detection sensor. You may do so.

Note that the storage unit 207 may record the image with metadata indicating the vertical direction when the image is recorded. The control unit 202 can adjust the metadata representing the vertical direction and the vertical direction when reproducing an image. Similarly, when the image pickup device 100 is rotated by 90 degrees to perform imaging, the information that the control unit 202 is rotated by 90 degrees is recorded, and the captured image is rotated by 90 degrees when the display unit 105 displays the image. To display.

In step S304, the control unit 202 sets the imaging parameters. Specifically, the control unit 202 drives the lens unit 103 from the AE (Automatic Exposure) and the lens drive unit 205 to give instructions such as AF (Autofocus), and imaging parameters such as the aperture value of the lens, the shutter speed, and the ISO sensitivity. To determine.

In this embodiment, the method of determining the imaging parameter is not limited to the above. For example, when a person is detected in the live view image, the imaging parameter may be controlled based on whether or not the person is a specific person registered in advance in the storage unit 207. For example, when a person is photographed, if the aperture of the lens is opened and the depth of field is shallow, the background area is blurred and the subject person can be emphasized. However, if the user focuses on a person other than the person intended, the person originally intended as the subject may not be within the depth of field and may be greatly blurred. Therefore, it is not a preferable image. Therefore, when the detected person is a specific person registered in advance, it is determined that the detected person is the main subject, the aperture value is determined so as to make the depth of field shallow, and the lens drive unit 205 Instruct to. If the specific person cannot be detected, it is determined that there may be a main subject other than that, and the control unit 202 determines the aperture value so as to increase the depth of field.

Further, as a method of controlling the imaging parameters, the GPS may be built in the imaging device 100 and the current position information may be used. The current position information is acquired by GPS or the like, and it is determined whether or not the current position corresponds to a predetermined location registered in advance. For example, if the location is registered as the user's home, it is unlikely that the scene will have a long depth, so the imaging parameters are controlled so that the aperture of the lens is opened to reduce the depth of field. You may try to do it. The location information may be acquired by communicating with an edge device equipped with GPS via the wireless communication unit 208.

Further, as a method of controlling the imaging parameters, feature information such as the type and design of the case and cover to be attached to the imaging device 100 may be used. For example, if the mounted case or cover has a light-colored design, the user may prefer a light-colored image, so the aperture should be overexposed over the exposure determined by normal AE processing. Determine parameters such as value, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity. It is assumed that the characteristic information of the case and the cover and the information on the correspondence between the imaging parameters are recorded in advance in a ROM (not shown) of the control unit 202. Further, the type and characteristic information of the attached case and cover may be specified by the user by operating the touch panel of the display unit 105.

Further, as a method of controlling the imaging parameters, feature information regarding how the user holds the imaging device 100 main body may be used. For example, the pressure-sensitive sensor provided in the holding detection unit 212 of the detection unit 203 detects the strength of the force that the user holds the image pickup device 100 main body, and the aperture value of the lens is determined according to the strength of the force. You may change any of the imaging parameters such as. By changing the image pickup parameter based on the information detected by the holding detection unit 212, it is not necessary to operate the operation unit 102, and the image pickup parameter can be changed only by changing the strength of the force for holding the image pickup device 100. It can be operated more easily.

Alternatively, the posture detection unit 211 of the detection unit 203 may detect the tilt of the image pickup device 100, and change any of the imaging parameters such as the zoom position of the lens unit 103 according to the tilt. .. For example, the zoom position may be changed to the telephoto side when the lens unit 103 side is tilted downward with respect to the horizontal of the image pickup device 100 body, and the zoom position may be changed to the wide-angle side when the display unit 105 side is tilted downward. .. The posture detection unit 211 detects the tilt of the image pickup device, so that when the user intends to change the image pickup parameter, it is not necessary to operate the operation unit 102, and the image pickup parameter is changed only by changing the tilt of the image pickup device 100. Because it can be operated, it can be operated more easily.

In step S305, the control unit 202 determines whether or not the button provided on the operation unit 102 has been pressed. If it is detected that the button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S306, and if the button press is not detected, the process proceeds to step S307.

If the time during which the operation unit 102 is pressed by the user is longer than or equal to a predetermined threshold value (long press), the control unit 202 causes the moving image to be captured, and if not. (Short press) may be controlled so that a still image is captured.

Further, as described above, FIG. 1 shows an image pickup device 100 in which only one button is arranged on the operation unit 102, but the present invention is not limited to this. When a plurality of buttons are arranged on the operation unit 102, only the buttons at positions that are easy to press can be made to function depending on how the image pickup apparatus 100 is held. For example, when a button is arranged on the bottom surface of the main body 101 (the side of the lens support 104), the bottom surface of the main body 101 is pressed when the optical axis direction is operated parallel to the ground as shown in FIG. 4 (b). It is difficult to do, and when it is pressed, there is a higher possibility of erroneous operation than intentional operation. Therefore, the posture detection unit 211 of the detection unit 203 determines the direction of the image pickup device 100 main body, and the control unit 202 invalidates the button operation on the bottom surface.

Further, as described above, a valid button may be notified through a display unit 105, a notification unit 209, or the like, and a valid button pressing operation may be notified. For example, instead of operating a button provided on the operation unit 102, the user operates a touch panel that is also used by the display unit 105 to issue an instruction for still image imaging or moving image imaging.

Further, by the following automatic imaging method, imaging can be performed without operating the operation unit 102. In the case of automatic imaging, in step S305, the control unit 202 determines whether or not the operation for causing the automatic imaging can be detected, not the determination of the operation by the operation unit 102. For example, the control unit 202 may control to automatically start capturing an image when a specific person or a specific subject registered in advance is detected in the live view image. In addition, as described above, even if the detection unit 203 detects that the image pickup device 100 is placed in a specific posture (example: horizontal) during the operation in the image pickup mode, the image pickup is started. good. Further, the control unit 202 may determine the start of imaging by the illuminance sensor, the pressure sensor, or the like provided in the detection unit 203. Further, in the case of automatic imaging, the notification unit 209 may notify the user of the imaging timing.

In step S306, the storage unit 207 records the captured data.

In step S307, the control unit 202 determines whether or not the imaging operation is completed. For example, when the operation unit 102 is not pressed for a certain period of time or more, it is determined that the imaging operation is completed. Further, the end of the imaging operation may be determined by using the same information as the detection method of the imaging preparation operation described in step S301.

In step S308, the control unit 202 determines whether or not the end of the imaging operation is detected in step S307. If detected, the flow ends. Upon completion, the image pickup apparatus 100 may enter the sleep mode from the image pickup mode. If it is not detected, the process returns to step S303 to continue a series of imaging operations.

The above has described the imaging process in the imaging mode in which imaging is performed by the imaging device 100.

(Playback mode)
Hereinafter, a reproduction process in a reproduction mode in which an image or the like is reproduced by the image pickup apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the reproduction process of the image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In step S501, the control unit 202 detects the start of the reproduction operation. The method of detecting the start of the reproduction operation may be any of the methods of detection by the detection unit 203 mentioned in the detection process in step S301, or may be used in combination, but in order to prevent a malfunction, what is step S301? It needs to be another way. For example, if pressing the button of the operation unit 102 is an instruction to start the reproduction operation in step S501, the detection process of the imaging preparation operation in step S301 cannot be determined by pressing the button of the operation unit 102. ..

Next, in step S502, it is determined whether or not the control unit 202 has detected the instruction to start the reproduction operation in step S501. If it is determined that the instruction to start the reproduction operation has been detected, the flow proceeds to step S503, and if it is determined that the instruction to start the reproduction operation has not been detected, the process returns to step S501.

In step S503, the control 202 determines the vertical direction of the image to be displayed based on the posture information at the time of capturing the image to be reproduced and the method detected by the current posture detection unit 211. The control unit 202 determines the display direction so that the gravity direction at the time of imaging and the gravity direction at the time of display are the same.

In step S504, the control unit 202 accepts the change of the display mode. In the display according to the present embodiment, the display unit 105 is initially provided so as to display all the images recorded by the storage unit 207 without being set by the user. When displaying only a specific image, in step S504, the user operates a touch panel or the like that is also used as the display unit 105 to change the display mode. For example, when the number of images captured increases due to the heavy use of continuous shooting, it is a complicated task for the user to display and check all the images. Therefore, a suitable image is selected from the captured images. It is preferable to display only the selected images. Here, it is assumed that the mode for displaying all images is referred to as the full display mode, the mode for displaying only the selected images is referred to as the selected image display mode, and the all display mode is selected in the initial state. The display mode may have a plurality of other modes depending on the difference in the degree of selection, but in the description of the present embodiment, it is described as having two modes, a full display mode and a selected image display mode. ..

In step S505, the control unit 202 determines whether or not the change to the selected image display mode is instructed. If the change to the selected image display mode is instructed, the process proceeds to step S506, and the user is made to select the image to be displayed by the display unit 105. Further, in step S506, the control unit 202 may select an image to be automatically displayed by using a known technique. For example, a technique of extracting and excluding a failed image such as a blurred image or a blurred image, and a technique of extracting and selecting the best shot from the facial expression of a subject can be mentioned. On the other hand, if the change to the selected image display mode is not instructed in step S505, the process directly proceeds to step S507.

Next, in step S507, the display unit 105 displays the image. The display unit 105 displays the image selected in step S506, or displays all the images recorded in the storage unit 207. Alternatively, in order to improve visibility, a part of all the recorded images may be displayed, and in order to improve searchability, a plurality of thumbnail images obtained by reducing the display candidate images by a predetermined magnification are displayed on the display unit 105. It may be a display method.

Next, in step S508, the control unit 202 performs a detection process of the end of the reproduction operation. For example, when there is no touch operation on the touch panel that also serves as the display unit 105 for a certain period of time or more, it is determined that the end of the playback operation has been detected. Further, the end of the imaging operation may be determined by using the same information as the method for detecting the start of the reproduction operation described in step S501.

In step S509, the control unit 202 determines whether or not the end of the reproduction operation has been detected. When the end of the playback operation is detected, the flow ends. If the end of the reproduction operation is not detected, the process returns to step S503, and the subsequent processing is repeated.

In the playback mode, the user can issue post-processing instructions to the displayed image through the operation unit 102. Here, the post-processing is a general term for processing performed on at least one image selected from the displayed images. For example, image editing, transfer to other devices, deletion, etc. can be mentioned. When the image is transferred to another device here, the process is assumed to shift from the reproduction mode to the transfer mode described later. Further, at the time of transfer, if the number of target images increases, the burden of transfer increases. Therefore, only the image extracted by the display image selection described above may be transferred.

In the above, the reproduction process in the reproduction mode in which reproduction is performed by the image pickup apparatus 100 has been described.

(Transfer mode)
Hereinafter, the transfer process in the transfer mode in which the image pickup device 100 transfers an image or the like will be described.

When the imaging device camera 100 in the present embodiment switches to the transfer mode, it connects to another device such as a network server such as a smartphone or cloud via the wireless communication unit 208, and transfers the image or the like stored in the storage unit 207. conduct. The user may manually switch to the transfer mode through the operation unit 102, or the control unit 202 may automatically switch to the transfer mode. In the present embodiment, an automatic transfer that requires less effort will be described.

A method in which the control unit 202 automatically switches to the transfer mode will be described in detail.

The control unit 202 automatically switches to the transfer mode based on the information detected by the detection unit 203. For example, the control unit 202 detects a state in which the image pickup device 100 is placed upright as shown in FIG. 4A, and switches to the transfer mode. Specifically, the control unit 202 detects the posture of the image pickup device 100 based on the detection result of the posture detection unit 211 of the detection unit 203, and the posture of the image pickup device 100 is in a state of being stationary for a predetermined time or more in the vertical direction. Switch to transfer mode. When the image pickup device 100 enters the transfer mode, an image or the like is transferred to a connected external device via the wireless communication unit 208.

If the state of being placed upright and stationary during the transfer cannot be detected in the transfer mode, the transfer is stopped in the middle, the display unit 105 indicates that the transfer is stopped in the middle, and then the transfer mode is set. When switching, the image that could not be transferred may be transferred.

Further, for example, the control unit 202 detects a state in which the image pickup device 100 is stored in the bag or the case, and switches to the transfer mode. Specifically, the control unit 202 detects the brightness around the image pickup device 100 based on the brightness information detected by the illuminance detection unit 210 of the detection unit 203 after taking an image, and the brightness is set for a predetermined time. When it is darker than the predetermined threshold value, the transfer mode is switched to. When the transfer mode is switched to and the transfer is completed, the power may be automatically turned off.

The transferred image may be deleted from the storage unit 207.

In the above description, the implementation method of automatically switching to the transfer mode and automatically transmitting the image has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the user manually switches to the transfer mode and selects the image or transfer destination to be transferred. May be good.

The above has described the transfer process in the transfer mode in which the image pickup apparatus 100 transfers.

According to the present embodiment, the user can easily carry and operate the image pickup device 100, and can easily observe the display of the display unit 105 when taking a picture.

(Other embodiments)
In the description of the above embodiment, the operation by the operation unit 102 and the detection by the detection unit 203 are the switching between modes, the power on / off, the start / end of imaging, the start / end of reproduction, the start / end of transfer, and the display method. Although it is stated that it is used for judgment, parameter setting, etc., the functions by their operation / detection may be compatible / combined as long as they do not contradict each other.

In the present invention, a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to a system or device via a network or a recording medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device program. It can also be realized by the process of reading and operating. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

All of the above-described embodiments merely show examples of embodiment in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner by these. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or its main features.

100 Digital camera 101 Main body 102 Operation part 103 Lens unit 104 Lens support part 105 Display part 106 Strap hole 107 Terminal part

Claims (23)

It has a main body, an optical system, and a display.
The display unit is an imaging device characterized in that the display unit is fixed to the main body unit in a state of being tilted with respect to the optical axis of the optical system. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the display surface of the display unit is not parallel to the optical system. It also has an image sensor
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display surface of the display unit is not parallel to the image pickup device. The image pickup device according to claim 3, wherein the image pickup device is a photoelectric conversion element. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the main body has a constricted shape. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the display unit and the lens are arranged at both ends of the main body unit in the optical axis direction of the optical system. The imaging device according to claim 6, wherein a lens support portion is provided around the lens. The imaging device according to claim 7, wherein the lens support portion is made of rubber. The imaging device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the lens support portion is circular when viewed along the optical axis direction of the optical system. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the display unit has a substantially rectangular shape. It has an optical system and a display unit,
An imaging device characterized in that the display unit is not always perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system. It has a main body, an image sensor, and a display.
The display unit is an image pickup apparatus characterized in that the display unit is fixed to the main body portion in a state of being tilted with respect to the image pickup element. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising an operation unit, wherein the operation unit has at least one button. The imaging device according to claim 13, wherein the display unit is a touch panel and also serves as the operation unit. The imaging device according to claim 13, wherein the short-pressing of the button controls the imaging of a still image, and the long-pressing of the button controls the imaging of a moving image. The imaging device according to claim 13, wherein different operations are performed depending on the length of time that the button is pressed. Has a detector
The detection unit detects at least one of angular velocity, acceleration, gravity direction, illuminance, and pressure.
The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the imaging is controlled based on the information detected by the detection unit. The imaging device according to claim 17, wherein the imaging control is at least one of power on / off, imaging start / end, reproduction start / end, transfer start / end, and parameter setting. The detection unit detects the illuminance and
The imaging device according to claim 17, wherein if the illuminance is equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold value, power-on control is performed. The detection unit detects the illuminance and
The imaging device according to claim 17, wherein if the time for the illuminance to reach a predetermined second threshold value is a predetermined third threshold value, power off control is performed. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, further comprising a communication unit that performs wireless communication. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein a strap can be attached to the main body. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the main body has a hole to which a strap can be attached.

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