JP2870852B2 - Optical equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical apparatus. For example, the present invention relates to an optical apparatus such as a camera, in which an observer on an observation plane (focus plane) on which a subject image is formed by a photographing system is formed. An axis in the direction of the gazing point being observed, that is, a so-called visual axis (line of sight) is detected by the line of sight detecting means, and a light meter on the observation surface is measured by a light measuring means using a line of sight signal from the line of sight detecting means. The present invention relates to an optical device for obtaining exposure information.

(Prior Art) In recent cameras, the amount of information to be input to the camera has been increasing with the increase in the number of functions. In a conventional camera, a photographer operates a push button switch or a dial switch to input information relating to, for example, photometry or distance measurement. However, in general, if the number of types of information to be input increases, the operation tends to be complicated.

Observation surface (focusing surface) of information related to photography
There are various types of so-called multi-spot exposure control devices in which photometry is performed at arbitrary plural points within the range, photometric values at the plural points at this time are obtained by a predetermined calculation method, and exposure control is performed using the calculation result. It has been proposed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a main part of a camera having a conventional multi-spot exposure control device.

In this figure, the photographer selects the spot metering at the center with the metering mode selection button on the camera grip, and adjusts the spot metering range mark at the center of the viewfinder (observation surface) to the area to be metered with the spot metering button. push. As a result, the spot photometric value at this time is stored in the storage unit and used for exposure control.

When the user wants to focus on a plurality of points, the camera is moved and the spot metering button is sequentially pressed in accordance with a plurality of areas corresponding to the spot metering range mark at the center of the finder. In this way, for example, a weighted average value of the photometric values at a plurality of points is obtained each time the spot photometric button is pressed, and stored in the storage unit. Then, exposure information for exposure control is obtained using the weighted average of the stored photometric values at a plurality of points.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In a conventional multi-spot photometry device using photometry values at a plurality of points in an observation plane, spot photometry can be performed only at one central portion of a finder (observation plane). Because of this,
Each time the photographer selects at any point in the viewing plane,
The camera had to be moved to match the spot metering range mark to the target area.

Therefore, the photographer must determine the framing once, move the camera to obtain the photometric values at multiple points, store it in the storage unit, return the camera to the original position again, and take the picture, which is very troublesome. Met. That is, there has been a problem that the troublesomeness of redoing the framing after the photometry, the troublesomeness of moving the camera each time, and the like accompany the photographing.
In addition, when a tripod is used, it is generally difficult to move the camera, so that there is a problem that the multi-spot photometry function cannot be effectively exhibited.

The present invention detects the line of sight of the observer observing the observation surface, selects an area on the observation surface that the observer wants to mainly measure using the line of sight signal, and selects the selected area at this time. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical device which can improve the troublesomeness in photographing by using the photometric value and can easily and quickly obtain exposure information.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The optical apparatus according to the present invention includes: (1-1) a line-of-sight detecting unit that detects a line-of-sight position of a user, a photometric unit that can perform a photometric operation in each of a plurality of photometric regions, Storage means for storing the photometry results of the respective photometry areas corresponding to the gaze positions detected by the gaze detection means; and exposure control means for performing exposure control based on the plurality of photometry results stored in the storage means. It is characterized by:

(1-2) Line-of-sight detecting means for detecting the line-of-sight position of the user, photometric means capable of performing a photometric operation in each of a plurality of photometric areas, an operating member manually operable by the user, and the operating member being operated Storage means for storing the photometry results of the respective photometry areas corresponding to the gaze positions detected by the gaze detection means at the time of exposure, and exposure control means for performing exposure control based on the plurality of photometry results stored in the storage means And characterized in that:

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 (A) is a schematic view of a main part of the first embodiment when the present invention is applied to a single-lens reflex camera, and FIG. 1 (B) is a diagram of the gazing point detecting device of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the detection principle which detects the gaze direction of the observer's eyeball for extracting and developing a main part and calculating | requiring a gazing point.

First, the outline of the exposure control device of FIG. 1A will be described.

In this embodiment, a subject image is formed on a focus plate (observation surface) 103 via a mirror 102 by flipping up a subject image by a photographing lens 101. Then, through the penta roof prism 105, an image of the subject on the focus plate is observed as an erect erect image by an eyepiece 106 having a dichroic mirror surface 106a. In this embodiment, each of the elements 103, 104, 105, and 106 constitutes one element of the observation system.

In general, an observer (examiner) who looks into a finder field of view of a single-lens reflex camera transmits a subject light (image) formed on a focusing plate after being transmitted through a photographing lens 101, reflected by a flip-up mirror 102, and a penta roof prism 105 and an eyepiece. Receive and observe through 106. At this time, the observer rotates his or her eyeball in order to turn his or her line of sight on the gazing subject in the finder visual field.

An illuminating means (constituted by the light source 4 and the light projecting lens 6) is arranged in front of the eyepiece lens 106, and illuminates the eyeball 112 of the observer.

The infrared light reflected by the cornea and iris of the eyeball 112 is incident on the eyepiece 106, is reflected by the dichroic mirror 106a of the eyepiece 106, and is reflected on the image sensor 9 via the half mirror 5 and the light receiving lens 7. The image of is formed. Here, the dichroic mirror section 106 of the eyepiece 106
a is formed, for example, by bonding two rectangular prisms coated with a dielectric multilayer film, and the dielectric multilayer film is set so as to transmit visible light and reflect infrared light.

Each singular point is detected from the cornea and rainbow images based on the reflection of the eyeball formed on the image sensor 9, and the sight line is detected by the sight line calculating means 8 as described later. Focus plate 10 intended by the observer at 10
The injection points on three surfaces are detected. The image sensor 9 and the line-of-sight calculation means 8 constitute one element of the line-of-sight detection means.

The first point corresponding to the gazing point extracted by the gazing point extracting means 10
A predetermined area (one or more) of a plurality of areas A _{1 to} A ₉ divided into a plurality of areas in an observation plane (focus plate 103) shown in FIG. Photometry,
Exposure information is obtained by the exposure control means 24 using the photometric value from the photometric means 23.

Next, a method of detecting the direction of the line of sight of the eyeball used for obtaining the point of gaze in FIG. 1B will be described.

In the figure, 100 is the eyeball of the subject (observer), 1 is the cornea of the subject's eyeball, 2 is the sclera, and 3 is the iris. O 'is the center of rotation of the eyeball 101, O is the center of curvature of the cornea 1, a and b are the ends of the iris 3, and d is the position where a corneal reflection image is generated based on the light source 4 described later. A light source 4 is a light emitting diode or the like that emits infrared light insensitive to a subject. The light source 4 is arranged near the focal plane of the light projecting lens 6. The light projecting lens 6 illuminates the surface of the cornea 1 with the light beam from the light source 4 as a parallel light beam. Note that the light source 4 and the light projecting lens 6 constitute one element of the illumination means.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a light receiving lens which forms a corneal reflection image generation position d formed near the cornea 1 and ends a and b of the iris on an image sensor (photoelectric conversion element) 9 surface. Incidentally, the light receiving lens 7 and the image sensor 9 constitute one element of the detecting means.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a line-of-sight calculation unit that calculates a line of sight based on an output signal from the image sensor 9. Reference numeral 10 denotes a gazing point extracting unit, which is a gaze direction intended by the observer based on the gaze direction information output from the gaze calculating unit 8 at every moment, that is, in the observation visual field (the focus plate 103 in FIG. 1 (A)). The gazing point of one area on the surface is extracted by a method described later.

Based on the output signal from the gazing point extraction means 10, various photographing operations such as evaluation photometry and multi-point light can be controlled as desired by the observer.

A is the optical axis of the light receiving lens 7 and coincides with the X axis in the figure. A is inclined by an angle θ with respect to the X axis in the optical axis of the eyeball.

 Next, the optical function of this embodiment will be described.

After the infrared light emitted from the light source 4 passes through the light projecting lens 6,
The cornea 1 of the eyeball 100 is illuminated as substantially parallel light. The infrared light having passed through the cornea 1 illuminates the iris 3.

At this time, out of the infrared light illuminating the eyeball, a corneal reflection image generation position d based on a light beam reflected on the surface of the cornea 1 is imaged at a point d ′ on the image sensor 9 via the light receiving lens 7.

The infrared light diffusely reflected on the surface of the iris 3 is
The light is guided onto the image sensor 9 through the iris and forms an iris image.

FIG. 2 shows an image formed on the image sensor 9 of an eyeball at this time and a reflection image from each singular point of the eyeball, and an image sensor corresponding to each position of the eyeball when the center of the eyeball is scanned in the horizontal direction. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a horizontal scanning output signal from the CAM.

The line-of-sight calculating means 8 calculates the corneal reflection image spot position and the position of the pupil edge based on the above-mentioned equation (2). Is calculated in accordance with the following equation.

In this embodiment, the visual axis of the eyeball is obtained from the rotation angle θ at this time, and the visual axis of the subject is detected from this. The fixation point which the viewer on the viewing surface, as shown in FIG. 1 (C) from the line of sight obtained at this time (focusing screen 103) is observed, i.e., a predetermined region of the regions A ₁ to A ₉ Seeking.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the present invention. In the present embodiment, when the multi-spot photometry mode is entered, the microcomputer in the camera calculates the line of sight of the photographer, that is, the point on the focus plate 7 which the photographer is looking at, using a signal from the line of sight detecting device. Next, it is determined whether or not it is the gazing point (in this case, the point intended by the photographer as the photometry point of the multi-spot metering). If the gazing point is determined, the point is placed on the focusing screen. For example, a superimposed display is displayed to inform the photographer that he or she has recognized the point of interest. Since this operation is a confirmation operation to the photographer that is influenced by the cost of the product and the usage form of the user's needs, it may be used together with, for example, a buzzer sound, or may not be performed at all. Then, a photometric value at this point of gaze is obtained, and this value is stored in a memory (storage means) as a first weighted average value, and the weighted average value is displayed in a finder or the like as necessary. If necessary, the photometric value at the gazing point is also stored in the memory.

If the reset of the multi-spot metering is instructed by a reset switch or the like irrespective of whether or not the point of interest is determined, the values stored so far in the memory are reset, and the process proceeds to another routine. When the release switch is instructed by the release switch, the operation shifts to the release operation routine and then the release operation is performed.

Otherwise, the same process is repeated. That is, the gaze position of the photographer is obtained, and it is determined whether or not it is the gazing point.
If it is determined that the gazing point is the gazing point, the point is superimposed and displayed as necessary to confirm the photographer. Then, a photometric value of the point is obtained, a new weighted average value is calculated from this value and the weighted average value obtained last time, and the new weighted average value is stored in a memory and, if necessary, displayed in a viewfinder or the like.

Also, the photometric value of the gazing point is stored in the memory if necessary. After that, when a reset or release is instructed in the same manner as the previous time, the process proceeds to that routine, and otherwise the same process is repeated. However, the number of repetitions is restricted by the capacity of the memory and the like. If the number of repetitions is exceeded, for example, `` keep the weighted average value obtained until the upper limit of the number of repetitions is exceeded '' or `` calculate the weighted average value of photometric values for the latest number of repetitions Remember. "

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electric circuit according to the gazing point detecting means of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 301 denotes a photoelectric conversion element (image sensor) such as a CCD which constitutes detection means for detecting a reflected image from an eyeball;
Is a line-of-sight calculation circuit, and 303 is a line-of-sight zone discriminating circuit, which discriminates which zone (area) on the focus plate surface in the observation visual field, for example. Judgment is made from the magnitude of the rotation angle θ output from the 302. Reference numeral 304 denotes a gazing point calculation circuit.
The line-of-sight zone discriminating circuit 303 and the gazing point computing circuit 304 constitute a gazing point extracting circuit 305.

FIG. 1C shows an observation range in this embodiment, for example, a viewfinder screen of a camera, and includes zones A ₁ to A ₁ .
And 9 divided into A _9, is arranged a metering element at the corresponding position to perform divisional photometry.

The output signal from the line-of-sight calculation circuit 302 is a zone determination circuit 303
For example, each of the zones A _{1 to} A ₉ is determined and supplied to the gazing point calculation circuit 304. Note performs viewpoint photometry from the arithmetic circuit 304 is zone A ₅ as intended viewing direction of the example observer association weighting the zone A ₅ for metering When extracted, shooting in suits conditions to the observer's photographic intention Is possible.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a gazing point extracting circuit according to the present invention.

In the figure, 501, 502,..., 508, 509 are overhead transfer memories, which input the code information of the zones determined by the zone determination circuit 303 and sequentially transfer the data downward. A data selector 510 switches data in the memories 501 and 509 by a pulse from the SP terminal. 52
0 is the decoder, which decodes the output data of the data selector 510, either the output of the D ₀ to D ₉ pin is selected. 521 to 529 are up-down counter, for example, counts the code data corresponding to the zone A ₁ to A ₉ in FIG. 1 (C), the count whether is controlled by D ₁ to D ₉ pin signal, Up and down of the count are controlled by the SP terminal. CLK is a count clock input terminal.

A data comparison circuit 530 compares data stored in the up / down counters 521 to 529.

In this embodiment, the number of times, ie, the frequency, at which the observer's line of sight is directed to a plurality of divided zones in the observation range during a certain period of time is detected.

In FIG. 5, data older than a certain time is discarded, new data is added and updated, and the frequency is always output more than the latest data of a certain time.

 The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

When power is supplied to the system, power-up and clear are performed first, and all circuits are reset to an initial state. At this time, since the memories 501 to 509 also have no data, they are all 0, for example.

Next, a data update pulse is applied to the SP terminal, and while the SP terminal is at a high level, the data in the memory 509 is supplied to the decoder 520 via the data selector 510. When the input data is 0, the _D0 terminal is selected to becomes level, D ₁ to D ₉ pin remains low, the counter 521 to 529 counts all be banned. That is, the counter does not operate while there is no data in the memory 509.

Next, the data in the memories 501 to 509 are sequentially shifted downward, and the data in the memory 509 is discarded.

Next, information output via the line-of-sight calculation circuit 302 and the zone determination circuit 303 is input to the memory 501. Output terminal SP terminals corresponding to the supplied memory 501 is selected and the decoder 520 in the data selector 510 becomes the low level data, for example D ₂ terminal becomes a high level counter 522 is counting state.

At this time, since the SP terminal is at the low level, the counter is in the up-count mode, and one update clock is added from the clock terminal CLK to count up.

Next, an update pulse is applied to the SP terminal, and the contents of the memory 509 are deleted from the counters 521 to 529. In other words, memory
During SP terminal is high if 509 there is data in the data memory 509 through the data selector 510 is supplied to the decoder 520, the corresponding output terminal, for example, D ₂ terminal is selected by the high-level The counter 522 enters a countable state. At this time, since the SP terminal is at high level, the counter
521 to 529 are in down count mode, and clock terminal
When one update clock is added from CLK, the count 522 is set to a down count and the data in the memory 509 is deleted.

Similarly, by repeating this operation sequentially, the latest frequency data within a certain fixed time is counted by the corresponding counters 521 to 529. The fixed time serving as a reference for counting the frequency can be easily set by changing the number of the memories 501 to 509.

The latest frequency data counted by the counters 521 to 529 is configured so that a data comparison operation is performed by a data comparison circuit 530 according to the application and necessary data is output.

 FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, first, when the multi-spot photometry mode is entered as in the first embodiment of FIG. 3, the microcomputer in the camera calculates the gaze of the photographer using the signal from the gaze detection device. If necessary, the position is superimposed and displayed on the focus board, and the photographer is notified of the gaze position recognized by the camera. Whether or not to perform this confirmation operation depends on the cost of the product, the needs of the user, and the form of use, as in the first embodiment. If the spot metering button is pressed at this time, the metering value at the point of interest is obtained, and this value is stored in the memory as the first weighted average value, and the weighted average value is stored in the viewfinder as necessary. indicate. If necessary, the photometric value at the gazing point is also stored in the memory. Then, regardless of whether the spot metering button has been pressed or not, when a reset or release instruction is issued, the routine processing is shifted. Otherwise, the same process is repeated.

That is, the gaze position of the photographer is calculated, and if necessary, the point is superimposed and displayed. If the spot metering button is pressed at this time, the metering value at that point is calculated, a new weighted average value is calculated from this value and the weighted average value obtained last time, and stored in the memory, if necessary. For example, the value is displayed in the viewfinder. Also, the photometric value of the gazing point is stored in the memory if necessary. Thereafter, as in the previous case, if a reset or release is instructed, the process proceeds to that routine, and otherwise, the same process is repeated. The number of repetitions is limited as in the first embodiment.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, (a) a line-of-sight detection unit that detects a line-of-sight position of a user, and a photometry unit that can perform a photometry operation in a plurality of photometry regions,
Storage means for storing the photometry results of the respective photometry areas corresponding to the gaze positions detected by the gaze detection means; and exposure control means for performing exposure control based on the plurality of photometry results stored in the storage means. In this way, for example, exposure control performed based on photometry results at a plurality of locations, such as multi-spot photometry, can also use the user's line of sight. Can be.

(B) line-of-sight detecting means for detecting the line-of-sight position of the user, photometric means capable of performing photometric operations in a plurality of photometric areas,
An operation member that can be manually operated by a user, storage means for storing a photometry result of each photometry area corresponding to a gaze position detected by the gaze detection means when the operation member is operated, and storage of the storage means And the exposure control means for performing the exposure control based on the plurality of photometric results, so that the user's line of sight can be used. be able to. Moreover, since the line of sight of the user when operating the operation member of the user is used, reliable operation can be performed by the line of sight.

And the like can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a main part of a first embodiment when the present invention is applied to a single-lens reflex camera, and FIG. 1B is a view of FIG.
FIG. 1 (C) is an explanatory diagram of an observation range of an observation system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram corresponding to each position of an eyeball in the present invention. Explanatory diagram of the horizontal scanning output signal from the image sensor to
FIGS. 3 and 6 are flowcharts of the first and second embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electric circuit for gazing point detection according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is gazing point detection according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a circuit, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a single-lens reflex camera having a conventional exposure control device. In the figure, 100 is the eyeball, 101 is the taking lens, 112 is the observer, 23
Is photometric means, 24 is exposure control means, 1 is cornea, 2 is sclera,
Reference numeral 3 denotes an iris, 4 denotes a light source, 5 denotes a half mirror, 6 denotes a light projecting lens, 7 denotes a light receiving lens, 8 denotes a line-of-sight detection circuit, 9 denotes an image sensor, 10 denotes a gazing point detection unit, 301 denotes a photoelectric conversion element, 302
Is a gaze calculation circuit, 303 is a gaze zone discrimination circuit, 304 is a gaze point calculation circuit, and 305 is a gaze point extraction circuit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-1-216325 (JP, A) JP-A-1-194764 (JP, A) JP-A-61-5614 (JP, A) JP-A-54-1979 123030 (JP, A) JP-A-63-94232 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 5/222-5/257 G02B 7/28-7/40 G03B 7/00-7/28

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A gaze detection means for detecting a gaze position of a user, a photometry means capable of performing a photometry operation in each of a plurality of photometry areas, and a photometry of each photometry area corresponding to the gaze position detected by the gaze detection means. An optical apparatus comprising: storage means for storing a result; and exposure control means for performing exposure control based on a plurality of photometric results stored in the storage means. 2. A gaze detecting means for detecting a gaze position of a user, a photometric means capable of performing a photometric operation in each of a plurality of photometric areas, an operating member manually operable by a user, and the operating member being operated. Storage means for storing the photometry results of the respective photometry areas corresponding to the gaze positions detected by the gaze detection means at the time of exposure, and exposure control means for performing exposure control based on the plurality of photometry results stored in the storage means An optical device comprising: 3. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said exposure control means calculates an average value of said plurality of photometric results, and performs exposure control based on said average value. 4. An optical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said exposure control means has a display means for displaying said average value.