JP3027022B2 - Camera with panorama shooting function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera with a panoramic photographing function which can arbitrarily switch between photographing of a normal photograph and photographing of a panoramic photograph.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Cameras having a panoramic photographing function in addition to ordinary photographing functions, particularly so-called compact cameras, have become widespread in order to widen the range of uses and ways of enjoying photography. In this type of camera with a panoramic photographing function, a light-shielding plate that is rotatable along the upper and lower sides of the aperture is provided. It is intended to be taken in such a way that it is not performed. That is, the captured screen is horizontally long, and a panoramic photograph is taken by using a wide-angle lens having a large angle of view as a photographing lens.

When a normal photograph is taken, the light-shielding plate is retracted from a part of the aperture so that the entire surface of the film is exposed.

[0004]

As a case suitable for performing panoramic photographing, there is a case where a scenery such as a mountain scenery is photographed. When photographing such a distant scene, it is necessary to perform photographing with the focusing position of the photographing lens set to infinity. In addition, panoramic photos taken with a camera that has a panoramic shooting function in addition to the normal shooting function,
At the time of print printing, the image is enlarged at a magnification larger than that of a normally photographed image, so that it is required that the focus be adjusted with higher precision than at the time of normal photographing.

There is a so-called auto-focusing device as a device for relieving troublesome focusing work at the time of photographing, and a compact camera equipped with the auto-focusing device. That is, the autofocus device is a device that measures a distance to a subject and moves a photographic lens in the optical axis direction so that focusing is performed at the distance at the time of release. The focus position of the photographing lens by this type of autofocus device is set in a plurality of steps, and the subject distance is divided into a range corresponding to the number of steps, and it is determined which range the distance to the subject is. Then, the photographing lens is set on a stage corresponding to the range to focus. In such an autofocus apparatus, even when the subject is located in a distant place, the taking lens is determined to be within a range including a finite distance to infinity, and is set at a stage corresponding to the range. That is, a distant subject is photographed with the focusing position of the photographic lens set at a finite distance, and the distant subject is focused using the depth of field of the photographic lens. It was done.

On the other hand, even with the above-mentioned autofocus device, a camera provided with a mechanism capable of forcibly moving a photographic lens to a position where the photographic lens is in focus at real infinity by an external operation is used. There is. In other words, regardless of the distance measurement data obtained by the distance measurement means of the autofocus device, the imaging lens is moved to a position where the in-focus position is at infinity. Because the subject is in focus without using it, it can be described more clearly.

[0007] As described above, there is a panoramic photographing application for photographing a landscape such as a mountain scenery. In such a case, it is preferable to set the focusing position to infinity, and on the other hand, forcibly mount the photographing lens. Focusing on the fact that there is a camera equipped with an autofocus device having a function capable of focusing at infinity, the present invention can obtain a clearer image when taking a panoramic shot of a distant landscape It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera with a panoramic photographing function as described above.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, a camera with a panoramic photographing function according to the present invention has a normal photographing mode for photographing a normal photograph and a panoramic photograph by operating an operation section such as a switching button. The camera has a distance measuring unit that measures the distance to the subject and obtains distance measurement data, and based on the distance measurement data, moves the shooting lens to the in-focus position. Panorama with an auto-focus device for driving up to and an infinity setting means for setting the focus position of the taking lens to infinity regardless of the distance measurement data by operating a selection unit such as a selection button as desired. In a camera with a photographing function, in a state where the panoramic photographing mode is selected by operating the operation unit, it is determined that the subject is located at the farthest point by the distance measuring unit. When the distance data is obtained is characterized in that shoot and set the focus position of despite taking lens at infinity to an operation of the selection unit.

[0009]

When the operation switch of the distance measuring means is turned on in a state where the panoramic photographing mode is selected for performing the panoramic photographing, distance measuring data is acquired. If the distance to the subject is the longest data according to the distance measurement data, the taking lens is set at a position where the focusing position is at infinity. Therefore, a panoramic photograph can be taken while focusing on a distant scenery such as a mountain scenery, and a clear image can be obtained.

When the distance measurement data does not indicate the farthest point, the photographing lens is set at a position where the subject is focused at the subject distance, and a panoramic photograph is taken.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a camera having a panoramic photographing function according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of this camera centered on a controller 1. This controller 1 has an arithmetic circuit 2 which constitutes a distance measuring means, and ∞ as an infinity setting means.
The set signal generation circuit 3, the panorama set signal generation circuit 4, the photometry circuit 5, and the release signal generation circuit 6 are connected,
The distance measurement data from the arithmetic circuit 2, the real infinity set signal from the set signal generation circuit 3, the panorama setting signal for setting the camera to the panorama shooting mode from the panorama set signal generation circuit 4, and the photometry circuit 5 , The luminance data of the subject and the release processing signal from the release signal generation circuit 6 are output to the controller 1, respectively.
The controller 1 sends a light emission signal to the light emitting element 7 constituting the distance measuring means, a strobe light emission signal to the AND gate 8, and a photographing lens drive signal to the driver circuit 9, respectively.

An output side of an AF photoreceptor 10 composed of an appropriate number of light receiving elements 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, and 10e constituting a distance measuring means is connected to the arithmetic circuit 2, and the AF photoreceptor 10 is connected to the output side.
Ten output signals are input to the arithmetic circuit 2. Also,
The output side of the arithmetic circuit 2 is connected to the farthest point signal generation circuit 11 in addition to the controller 1. The output side of the farthest point signal generation circuit 11 is connected to an AND gate 12 together with the output side of the panorama set signal generation circuit 4, and the output side of the AND gate 12 is connected to the ∞set signal generation circuit 3. ing.

The output side of the set signal generation circuit 3 is:
In addition to the controller 1, it is connected to the AND gate 8 via an inverter 13, and the output side of the release signal generating circuit 6 is further connected to the AND gate 8. The output side of the AND gate 8 is connected to a strobe light emitting circuit 14.

A lens drive motor 15 is connected to the output side of the driver circuit 9, and the photographic lens 16 is moved in the optical axis direction by the lens drive motor 15.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light emitting element 7 is disposed behind the light projecting lens 21 disposed on the front surface of the camera 20 and obliquely above the photographing lens 16, and has an optical axis. A visible cut filter 22 and a light receiving lens 23 (see FIG. 1) are disposed at positions substantially symmetrical with respect to the light projecting lens 21 about the vertical line including the vertical line, and the AF light receiving body 10 is disposed behind these. ing. A release button 24 is disposed on the upper surface of the camera 20, and when the release button 24 is pressed, a release processing signal is output from the release signal generation circuit 6. The release processing signal includes a photographing preparation signal and an exposure start signal. The release button 24 is composed of a two-stage switch. With the preparatory signal fully depressed, the second-stage switch of the shutter is turned on, and an exposure start signal is output.

As shown in FIG. 3, a panorama switch 25 as an operation unit for switching between a panorama shooting mode and a normal shooting mode is provided on the back of the camera 20 and beside the finder 27. When the switch 25 is operated to select the panorama shooting mode, the panorama set signal generation circuit 4 outputs a panorama setting signal. A distant view photographing button 26 is provided on the back of the camera 20 as a selection unit. When the distant view photographing is selected by operating this button, a real infinity set signal is output from the ∞set signal generation circuit 3. You.

At the top and bottom of the aperture 30 of the camera 20,
A pair of light shielding plates 31 that are rotatable about an axis parallel to the side of the aperture 30 is provided. When the panoramic photographing mode is selected, the light blocking plate 31 is rotated to a position where it overlaps a part of the upper and lower portions of the aperture 30 to close a part of the aperture 30. Therefore, at the time of photographing, the light transmitted through the photographing lens is shielded by the light shielding plate 31, and a part of the upper and lower portions of the film is not exposed, so that a panoramic picture is taken as a landscape screen. Further, in the normal photographing mode, the light blocking plate 31 is retracted from a position overlapping with a part of the aperture 30 to open the entire aperture 30.

A strobe light emission window 28 is provided on the front of the camera 20, as shown in FIG. 2, through which strobe light is emitted. The symbol O shown in FIG. 1 represents a subject.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the subject distance and the diameter (δ) of the circle of confusion, and based on the distance measurement data output from the arithmetic circuit 2 of the autofocus device, the driving motor 15
As a result, the photographing lens 16 is moved to the lens set position P. That is, the stage at which the taking lens 16 is set for focusing is divided into five stages P _{1 to} P _5.
When the object distance is within the range of 2.32 m to 4.95 m from the arithmetic circuit 2 based on the value obtained from the F light receiving body 10, the taking lens 16 is set to the lens set position P ₄ . In the set position P _4, the photographing lens 16 is subject distance 3.14
However, if the subject is within the above range, the diameter δ of the circle of confusion becomes δ = 0.025 mm or less, and the blur of the image becomes an acceptable value. That is, the lens set positions P _{1 to} P ₅ are divided according to the subject distance so that δ is 0.025 mm or less.

Further, the when the distant view shooting button 26 is turned ON, the photographing lens 16 regardless of the distance measurement data, is set to the lens setting position P ₆ of FIG. The set position P ₆ is a real infinity position.
Will focus on an object at infinity. Even when the object is present at infinity, if taken to set the photographing lens 16 to the set position P _5, the diameter of the circle of confusion δ
Although image in focus by using the depth of field of the taking lens 16 falls within 0.025mm is obtained, photographing lens 16 is theoretically [delta] = 0 by setting the set position P ₆ is will be focused at infinity, captured image becomes sharper than if the photographing lens 16 is set to the set position P _5.

The operation of the camera with the panoramic photographing function according to the present invention constructed as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

When the camera 20 is in a standby state so that it can be used for photographing, the release button 24 is depressed halfway and the shutter first-stage switch S ₁ is turned off.
Waiting for N (step 501). When the shutter first stage switch S ₁ is being turned ON, photometry is inputted started is acquired luminance data of an object to the controller 1, the shutter speed and aperture are determined from the exposure value (Step 502). At the same time, measurement of the distance to the subject (ranging) is started, and distance measurement data is obtained (step 503). When the controller 1 sends a light emission signal from the controller 1 to the light emitting element 7, the light is emitted from the light emitting element 7 toward the subject O, and the light reflected by the subject O is reflected by the subject distance of the AF light receiver 10. Light receiving element 10a corresponding to
To 10e, the arithmetic circuit 2 is calculated from the image formation position.
It is obtained by appropriate arithmetic processing. Then, the set position P of the photographing lens 16 is set from the distance measurement data. Next, a strobe process such as charging a capacitor of the strobe light-emitting circuit 14 is performed as necessary based on the luminance data obtained in step 502 (step 504).

The panorama switch (S _P ) 25
Is determined whether or not is turned on (step 505).
If not N waits for the release button 24 is a two-step switch S ₂ shutter is pushed to the end is ON (step 509). If the panorama switch 25 is ON, the subject distance is determined to be infinity (the farthest point) from the distance measurement data acquired in step 503.
Is determined (step 506). In this case, as shown in FIG.
If it is more than m (farthest point), it is determined to be infinity.
Will wait shutter second stage switch S ₂ of ON the routine proceeds to step 509 when the object distance is not in infinity.

[0025] When the object distance in Step 506 is determined to infinity proceeds to step 507, the set position of the taking lens 16 INF set is performed is set to P _6. That is, in FIG. 1, a signal indicating that the subject distance is at infinity is sent from the arithmetic circuit 2 to the farthest point signal generating circuit 11, and the highest signal is output from the farthest point signal generating circuit 11. The panorama set signal generation circuit 4 outputs a panorama setting signal (High) when the panorama switch 25 is turned on. As a result, a high signal is output from the AND gate 12, and a high signal is transmitted from the #set signal generation circuit 3 to the controller 1, whereby the INF is set (step 507).

Then, the routine proceeds to step 508, where the strobe light emission prohibition is executed. That is, since the High signal output from the ∞set signal generation circuit 3 is inverted to a Low signal by the inverter 13 and input to the AND gate 8, the output signal of the AND gate 8 becomes Low and the strobe light emitting circuit 14 Does not work and the flash does not fire. Then, will wait shutter second stage ON switch S ₂ proceeds to step 509.

When the release button 24 is depressed to the end and the shutter second-stage switch S ₂ is turned on, a photographic lens drive signal is sent from the controller 1 to the driver circuit 9, and the lens drive motor 15 is driven to drive the photographic lens. lens
16 is moved to the set position P according to the distance measurement data (step 510). At this time, when the step 507 INF set being executed has been made, the photographic lens 16 is moved to the set position P _6. Next, the shutter is released and exposure is performed (step 511). At this time, a strobe light is emitted and exposed as needed based on the luminance data acquired in step 502. But step 50
If step 8 is executed and flash firing is prohibited, the flash will not fire.

[0028]

As described above, according to the camera with the panoramic photographing function according to the present invention, when the panoramic photographing mode is selected and the panoramic photographing is performed, the distance measurement data obtained by the auto-focusing device is minimized. When a distant point is indicated, the photographing lens is set at the real infinity position to focus at infinity.Therefore, when photographing a distant landscape such as a mountain scenery, the infinity setting means is used. Even if you forget to operate the selection unit, you can take a picture focused on the subject. Therefore, when photographing a distant landscape, which is one of the uses of panoramic photography, even a person who is unfamiliar with handling the camera can capture a clear image with the subject in focus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of a camera with a panoramic photographing function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a front part of the camera.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rear portion of the camera with a back cover opened.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between a subject distance and a circle of confusion for evaluating blur of a photograph.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting a focus position of a photographing lens to a real infinity position in a release.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 controller 2 arithmetic circuit (distance measuring means) 3 ∞ set signal generating circuit (infinity setting means) 4 panorama set signal generating circuit 6 release signal generating circuit 7 light emitting element (distance measuring means) 8 AND gate 9 driver circuit 10 AF light receiving Body (measuring means) 11 Farthest point signal generation circuit 12 AND gate 13 Inverter 14 Strobe light emission circuit 15 Lens drive motor 16 Shooting lens 20 Camera 24 Release button 25 Panorama switch (operation unit) 26 Far view shooting button (selection unit) 27 Finder 30 Aperture 31 Shade

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An operation of an operation unit such as a switching button allows a user to arbitrarily switch between a normal photographing mode for photographing a normal photograph and a panoramic photographing mode for photographing a panoramic photograph, thereby reducing a distance to a subject. It has a distance measuring means for measuring and acquiring distance measurement data, an auto focus device for driving a photographing lens to a focusing position based on the distance measurement data, and operating a selection unit such as a selection button as desired. In the camera with the panorama shooting function provided with infinity setting means for setting the focus position of the shooting lens to infinity regardless of the distance measurement data, the operation unit is operated and the panorama shooting mode is selected. so,
When distance measurement data indicating that the subject is located at the farthest point is obtained by the distance measurement unit, shooting is performed by setting the focusing position of the shooting lens to infinity regardless of the operation of the selection unit. Camera with panoramic shooting function.