JP2937543B2 - Electronic still camera capable of measuring and displaying dimensions - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention measures and calculates the distance (dimension) between two objects to be measured captured in an AF frame, and can display the distance and angle in a finder. The present invention relates to an electronic still camera capable of measuring and displaying dimensions and the distance and angle thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The use of electronic still cameras has been remarkably widening recently, and there is a demand for easily and accurately knowing the size and length of a photographed subject on a display screen. Conventionally, a method was used in which a ruler or a cigarette was placed near the subject whose size was to be measured, and photographed at the same time, or a paper or the like in which the dimensions were measured in advance and the numerical values were written was taken together. . Also,
When it is not preferable to photograph them simultaneously on a screen, a method of inputting voice has been taken.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned methods have required preparing an object to be compared and measuring in advance by some method. Also, preparation before shooting was necessary. Therefore, the object of obtaining the size of the object to be measured can be achieved, but there is a drawback that the preparation is troublesome and the dimensions of the object to be measured cannot be easily displayed. A system for displaying the distance between the camera and the subject during reproduction is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-30 / 1990.
9472) is proposed, but this does not obtain the size of the subject. An object of the present invention is to measure a distance and an angle of an object to be measured captured in an AF frame at that time by shaking a camera body to the left and right, and calculate a distance (dimension) and an angle between the objects to be measured from the measured values. Electronic still camera that can easily and accurately know the dimensions of the DUT by displaying it in the viewfinder, and that can display the dimensions and angle on the screen of the subject even during playback. Is to provide.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic still camera capable of measuring and displaying dimensions according to the present invention comprises an imaging system means for converting a subject image formed on an imaging device through a lens system into a video signal. A lens position information detecting means for obtaining a distance to the object to be imaged on the image sensor, a shake angle detecting means for detecting a horizontal and vertical shake angles of the camera body, a dimension measurement display mode switch,
When the size measurement display mode switch is operated, the distance and angle to the object to be measured obtained by the lens position information detection means and the shake angle detection means at the time of focusing at that time are controlled to be displayed in a finder. When the distance and angle information to the object to be measured for the last time and the current time are obtained by operating the dimension measurement display mode switch, the distance and angle between the two objects to be measured are calculated from the information. The configuration is provided with a calculation display control means for displaying the calculation result in the finder. Further, in addition to the above configuration, a recording unit for mixing data displayed in the finder with a video signal of a subject and recording the mixed data on a recording medium, and configured to reproduce a video of the subject in which distance and angle are displayed. is there. Further, in addition to the above configuration, the distance and angle can be displayed on the screen of the subject during reproduction by recording the data displayed in the viewfinder on a recording medium with a signal that can be read separately from the video signal of the subject. Configuration.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of a display in a viewfinder of an electronic still camera according to the present invention. An AF target frame 21 is set at the center of the screen 20. Screen 2
An angle display unit 23 for displaying an angle is disposed at the lower left of 0, and a distance display unit 22 for displaying a distance (dimension) is disposed at the lower right. The angle display unit 23 displays an angle with respect to the DUT when the dimension measurement display mode operation is first performed (when this is the first dimension display mode operation, the current DUT is used as a reference), The distance display unit 22 displays the distance from the camera to the object to be measured or the distance between the objects to be measured. A number (1 or 2) indicating the number of the dimension measurement display mode operation or a number (1-2) indicating the distance or the like between the measured objects is displayed at the lower center of the screen 20. The part 24 is arranged.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing specific numerical values of the distance and the angle from the workpiece when the dimension measurement display mode is first operated. The camera is pointed so that the person 25 is in the center of the viewfinder, and the focus measurement position is
In the center of the face. The display of the angle display unit 23 is +
0.0 ° indicates that there is no deflection angle.
The display of the distance display unit 22 of 3.00 m indicates that the distance from the camera to the person 25 is 3 m. Furthermore, the fact that the display section 24 is 1 indicates that the dimension measurement display mode operation is the first time.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining that the display content of the display unit can be switched by a switching operation. The camera is swung so that the tree 26 is located at the center of the viewfinder. Since the display at this time is the second time of the dimension measurement display mode operation, 2 is displayed on the display unit 24, + 10.0 ° because the swung angle is 10 °, and 15.00 m because the distance is 15 m. Is displayed. The distance (dimension) between the person and the tree calculated from the distance and the angle between the person and the tree when the dimension measurement display mode is operated for the first time and the second time and the angle between them are displayed.
The display is + 10.0 °, 1-2, 12.06 m. When the switching operation is performed by a select switch described later, the numerical value obtained when the first or second dimension measurement display mode operation is performed or the numerical value calculated from the operation can be switched and displayed in the order indicated by the arrow 27.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic still camera capable of measuring and displaying dimensions according to the present invention.
The imaging system means includes a lens system 1, a diaphragm 2, a CCD imaging device 3, and an imaging circuit 4. The lens system 1 includes a master lens, a focusing lens, a variable power lens (zoom lens), and the like.
Is arranged. The lens and aperture control means 14 and 15 include a drive unit for driving the focus adjustment lens and the variable power lens of the lens system 1, a drive unit for driving the aperture, and a control unit for controlling these. The lens and aperture control means 14 and 15 perform drive control based on control signals sent from the CPU 7.

When the CPU 7 activates the CCD driver included in the image pickup circuit 4 to drive the CCD image pickup device 3, the subject image is taken into the signal processing circuit 5 through the image pickup system means and displayed on a finder (not shown). Lens control means 1
Reference numeral 4 drives the focusing lens based on the high-frequency signal extracted from the video signal together with the above operation to perform a focusing operation. During the focusing operation process and during focusing, the lens control means 14
The information (distance information) indicating the lens position for focus adjustment is detected by the lens position information detecting means included in
Sent to The aperture control 15 drives and controls the aperture 2 so that the subject has an appropriate exposure.

When the CPU 7 receives the shutter operation signal, it sends a control signal to the CCD driver and sends the control signal to the CCD image pickup device 3.
Then, the charge accumulated so far is discharged to start the transfer, and the transfer is ended after a predetermined time (shutter time). The imaging circuit 4 sends an electric signal of a subject image from the CCD imaging device 3 to the signal processing circuit 5. The signal processing circuit 5 creates a predetermined video signal by inserting a synchronization signal or the like into the signal from the imaging system circuit 4, performs an emphasis process on the video signal, and then performs FM modulation. When operating the shutter, the CP
U7 takes in lens position information (distance information), zoom information, and aperture and brightness exposure information from the lens and aperture control means 14 and 15. Further, by detecting a high-frequency component of the luminance information taken in from the imaging circuit 4, it is possible to obtain focusing information as to whether or not focusing has been achieved.

The CPU 7 is connected to key input means 10 including a mode switch 10a for performing dimension measurement display and a select switch 10b for switching the display. A vertical shake angle detection circuit 11 for detecting a shake angle of how much the camera body is shaken in the vertical direction.
However, a horizontal deflection angle detection circuit 12 for detecting a horizontal deflection angle is similarly connected. A camera shake angle sensor 16 is built in the camera body, and the sensor output is input to a vertical shake angle detection circuit 11 and a horizontal shake angle detection circuit 12. Note that the shake angle sensor that detects the shake angle of the tripod without being built in the camera, for example, an angle sensor that includes a brush that detects the rotation angle of the tripod and a contact portion thereof may be used. The display unit 13 (the part including the display units 22, 23 and 24 in FIG. 1) arranged at the lower part inside the electronic finder is displayed under the control of the CPU.

When creating a video signal of a predetermined subject, the signal processing circuit 5 mixes the distance and angle information selected by the CPU 7 with the select switch 10b into the video signal. The FM modulated wave processed by the signal processing circuit 5 is amplified by a recording circuit 6 and recorded on a recording medium (video floppy) 9. Recording media servo circuit 8
Is a video floppy drive circuit composed of a spindle motor for rotating the video floppy and a driver for controlling the spindle motor. The video floppy drive circuit is controlled under the control of the CPU 7 so that the video floppy has a predetermined rotation speed and a predetermined phase. Similarly, a magnetic head driving system circuit (not shown) moves the magnetic head to a track designated by the video floppy.

Next, the operation and recording operation at the time of photographing will be described with reference to FIGS. Mode switch 10
When a is operated, the distance detected by the lens position information detecting means and the angles taken from the vertical and horizontal shake angle detection circuits 11 and 12 are displayed in the viewfinder for the person captured by the AF target 21 at that time. The image is displayed at the bottom of the viewfinder together with the image of the person. At the same time, these data are stored in C (not shown).
It is stored in a memory circuit built in the PU7. Next, after the photographer shakes the camera and sets the AF target 21 to the tree,
When the second dimension measurement display mode operation, that is, the mode switch is operated, as shown in FIG. 3, the distance and angle to the tree are replaced by the distance and angle to the person displayed so far under the image of the tree. Is displayed. The data at this time is also stored in a memory circuit built in the CPU 7.

When the two data are input, the CPU 7 calculates the distance l and the angle θ between the person and the tree by performing the following calculations. θ = COS ^-1 ｛COS (θ _V2 −θ _V1 ) × COS (θ _H2 −θ _H1 )｝ ... (1) l = ｛(l ₁ × Sin θ) ² + (l ₂ −l ₁ × COS θ) ² ｝ ^1/2 (2) where θ _V1 is the first vertical angle θ _V2 is the second vertical angle θ _H1 is the first horizontal angle θ _H2 is the second horizontal angle The angle l ₁ is the distance to the first measured object l ₂ is the distance to the _second measured object The above calculation data is stored in the memory circuit built in the CPU 7, and the distance when the second dimension measurement display operation is performed and Displayed after the angle has been displayed for a certain period of time.

The photographer can select and display a distance or the like as a result of performing the first or second dimension measurement display operation or a calculation result distance with the select switch 10b. In this way, the distance and the like displayed at the lower part of the finder can be simultaneously recorded on the video floppy together with the image of the subject. When the photographer shakes the camera so that both the person and the tree enter the shooting range as shown in FIG. 1, the subject image taken from the lens 1 is sent to the signal processing circuit 5 via the imaging circuit 4. Sent. On the other hand, display data such as the distance selected by the select switch 10 b is also read from the memory circuit built in the CPU 7 and sent to the signal processing circuit 5. In the signal processing circuit 5, the image of the subject and the display data such as the distance are mixed, and the mixed image is recorded on a predetermined track of the video floppy via the recording circuit 6. When playback is performed by a playback device, select switch 1
Display data such as the distance selected at 0b is also displayed.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which display data such as distance and the image of the subject are mixed and recorded on the video floppy. However, the image of the subject and the display data such as distance are mixed and recorded. Instead, display data such as separate tracks or distances can be recorded in the user's area of the ID. For example, when recording in the user's area of ID, the FM modulation signal of the video signal of the subject and the DPSK-modulated I
The D information is superimposed in the signal processing circuit 5 and recorded on a track designated by the CPU 7 of the video floppy by the recording circuit. During reproduction, a superimposed signal of an FM modulation signal and a phase modulation signal of ID information is read from a selected track of the video floppy. The ID information is separated from the FM modulation signal and demodulated. On the other hand, the video FM modulation signal is also demodulated and reproduced on the TV monitor. At this time, display data such as the distance of the user's area of the ID can be displayed simultaneously with the reproduced image of the subject by using a display selection switch or the like, or can not be displayed.

Also, an example has been described in which a video floppy is used as a recording medium, but an IC card or another recording medium can be used as a recording medium. Further, although the example of the analog recording method has been described, the present invention is also applicable to a case where an image of a subject is A / D converted and digitally recorded.

[0018]

As described above, the electronic still camera capable of measuring and displaying dimensions according to the present invention detects the distance to the object to be measured at the time of focusing and the horizontal and vertical swing angles of the camera body at that time. When the dimension measurement display mode switch is operated, the distance and angle to the object to be measured at the time of focusing are displayed in the finder,
When information on the distance and the angle to the object to be measured is obtained for the second time and the second time, the distance and the angle between the objects to be measured are calculated from the information, and the calculation result is displayed in the finder. It is configured. Therefore, the distance (dimension) between the two objects to be measured as the subject can be simultaneously displayed in the finder together with the video signal of the subject, and the dimension between the subjects can be easily determined without special preparation on the subject side. You can know. Further, since the camera body is shaken to obtain and calculate the distance between the two points with respect to the camera, it is possible to measure the dimensions even if the size between the objects to be measured does not fit within the screen. Further, since the present invention is configured to record the distance and the like displayed at the time of shooting together with the image of the subject on a recording medium, the distance between the subject and the object to be measured is displayed not only in the viewfinder during shooting but also during playback. Distance and other information can be displayed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of a display unit such as a distance in a viewfinder.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of numerical values of a distance and an angle when a dimension measurement display operation is first performed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining that a distance and an angle value are switched and displayed in a finder;

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic still camera capable of measuring and displaying dimensions according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lens 2 ... Aperture 3 ... CCD 4 ... Imaging circuit 5 ... Signal processing circuit 6 ... Recording circuit 7 ... CPU (including arithmetic display control means) 8 ... Recording medium servo circuit 9 ... Recording medium 10 ... Key input means 11 ... Vertical deflection angle detection circuit 12 Horizontal deflection angle detection circuit 13 Display unit in viewfinder

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01B 11/00-11/30 102 G03B 17/18-17/20 H04N 5/222-5/257

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An imaging system means for converting a subject image formed on an image sensor through a lens system into a video signal, and a lens position information detecting means for obtaining a distance to an object to be measured formed on the image sensor. A shake angle detecting means for detecting horizontal and vertical shake angles of the camera body, a dimension measurement display mode switch, and when the dimension measurement display mode switch is operated, detecting the lens position information at the time of focusing. The distance and the angle to the measured object obtained by the means and the deflection angle detecting means are controlled so as to be displayed in the viewfinder, and the distance to the measured object for the last time and the current time is measured by operating the size measurement display mode switch. And when the angle information is obtained, the distance and angle between the two DUTs are calculated from the information and the calculation display control means for displaying the calculation result in the finder. An electronic still camera capable of measuring and displaying dimensions, comprising a step. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit that mixes data displayed in the viewfinder with a video signal of the subject and records the video signal on a recording medium, and reproduces a video of the subject in which distance and angle are displayed. Item 1. An electronic still camera capable of measuring and displaying dimensions according to Item 1. 3. The distance and angle can be displayed on a screen of a subject during reproduction by recording data displayed in the viewfinder on a recording medium with a signal that can be read separately from a video signal of the subject. 2. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the electronic still camera is capable of measuring and displaying dimensions.