JP3296578B2 - camera - 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 such as a video camera, and more particularly to a diopter correction of a finder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various devices have been proposed for detecting what position on an observation surface an observer is observing, that is, detecting a so-called line of sight (axial axis).

For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 61-172552, a parallel light beam from a light source is projected to the anterior segment of an observer's eyeball, and a corneal reflection image due to light reflected from the cornea and an image forming position of a pupil are used. And seek the visual axis. FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams of the principle of line-of-sight detection. FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of a line-of-sight detection optical system, and FIG. 8B is an intensity diagram of an output signal from the photoelectric element array 6. In FIG. 8A, reference numeral 5 denotes a light source such as a light-emitting diode that emits infrared light insensitive to an observer;
It is arranged on the focal plane of the light projecting lens 3. The infrared light emitted from the light source 5 becomes parallel light by the light projecting lens 3 and is reflected by the half mirror 2 to illuminate the cornea 21 of the eyeball 201.
At this time, a corneal reflection image d due to a part of the infrared light reflected on the surface of the cornea 21 is transmitted through the half mirror 2, condensed by the light receiving lens 4, and is re-imaged at the position Zd ′ on the photoelectric element array 6.

Light beams from the ends a and b of the iris 23 form images of the ends a and b at positions Za 'and Zb' on the photoelectric element array 6 via the half mirror 2 and the light receiving lens 4. I do. When the rotation angle θ of the optical axis a of the eyeball with respect to the optical axis (optical axis a) of the light receiving lens 4 is small, and the Z coordinates of the ends a and b of the iris 23 are Za and Za, the center position c of the iris 23 is Coordinates Zc
Is expressed as Zc ≒ (Za + Zb) / 2.

If the Z coordinate of the corneal reflection image generation position D is Zd, and the distance between the center of curvature O of the cornea 21 and the center C of the iris 23 is OC, the rotation angle θ of the optical axis A of the eyeball is OC * sin θ ≒ Zc−Zd... (1)

Here, the Z coordinate Zd of the position d of the corneal reflection image
And the Z coordinate Z of the center of curvature O of the cornea 21 match.
Therefore, the arithmetic means detects the position of each singular point (corneal reflection image d and end portions a and b of the iris) projected on the surface of the photoelectric element array 6 as shown in FIG. A rotation angle θ can be obtained. At this time, the expression (1) is rewritten as β * OC * sin θ ≒ (Za ′ + Zb ′) / 2−Zd ′ (2) Here, β is a magnification determined by the distance L1 between the corneal reflection image generation position d and the light receiving lens 4 and the distance L0 between the light receiving lens 4 and the photoelectric element array 6, and is usually a substantially constant value.

On the other hand, in a conventional camera-integrated VTR,
When the photographer attempts to input various functions during photographing, he or she must perform the operation while looking through the viewfinder. In addition, in order to operate while checking the switches of various functions, it is necessary to take an eye from the viewfinder once, and there is a possibility that the photographing screen is disturbed or the subject is lost. Furthermore, various functions accompanying the camera-integrated VTR tend to increase in recent years due to diversification of user applications. In view of such a background, for example, applying the above-described gaze detection device, detecting the gaze in the viewfinder, using a menu screen, etc., and applying to various function inputs, keeping an eye on the viewfinder. Therefore, it is possible to easily input a function or the like.

[0008]

In a general camera-integrated VTR, the diopter of the camera has been manually corrected. However, when one camera is used by several people, it is necessary to correct the diopter every time when one camera is used, which may be troublesome. In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera capable of automatically performing a diopter correction of a photographer in a view finder once a certain photographer has performed diopter correction. .

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a camera according to the present invention is configured as described in the following (1) and (2 ) .

[0010]

( 1 ) A pupil information detecting means for detecting information of a pupil looking through a finder, a diopter correcting means for correcting a diopter of the finder, and a diopter compensation by the diopter correcting means .
Storage means for storing the correction information when the correction is performed and the pupil information of the pupil information detection means detected at that time, and a pupil detected by the pupil information detection means when looking through the finder Determining means for comparing information and pupil information stored in the storage means to determine whether or not the pupil is the same; and when the determination means determines the same pupil, the storage means is associated with the pupil information. camera equipped with a drive means on the basis of the correction information stored driving the diopter compensation means.

( 2 ) The camera according to ( 1) , further comprising an instruction unit for instructing the photographer to manually operate the diopter correction unit when the same pupil cannot be determined by the determination unit.

[0013]

[0014]

SUMMARY OF] (1), according to the configuration of (2), when viewed through the viewfinder, pupil information stored in the pupil information storage means detected by the pupil information detection means is compared, the same or pupil A determination is made as to whether or not it is. When the pupil is the same, the diopter correction unit is driven based on the correction information stored in the storage unit in association with the pupil, and diopter correction is automatically performed.

In the configuration ( 2 ), when the same pupil cannot be determined, an instruction is issued to the photographer to manually perform diopter correction.

[0016]

The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to examples. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a “video camera” according to an embodiment. In the figure, 1 is an eyepiece, 2 is a dichroic mirror for transmitting visible light and reflecting infrared light, and also serves as an optical path splitter.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a light receiving lens, and reference numerals 5a, 5b, and 5c denote illumination means, which are, for example, light emitting diodes. 6
Denotes a photoelectric element row. The light receiving lens 4 and the photoelectric element array 6 constitute one element of the light receiving means. The photoelectric element array 6 normally uses a device in which a plurality of photoelectric elements are arranged one-dimensionally in a direction perpendicular to the drawing, but uses a device in which two or more photoelectric elements are arranged as necessary. Each element 1, 2, 4, 5a,
5b, 5c and 6 constitute an eye gaze detection system.

Reference numeral 101 denotes an electronic viewfinder, and reference numeral 102 denotes a finder screen. In the present embodiment, an image projected on the finder screen 102 is guided to the eye point E via the eyepiece 1.

The line-of-sight detection device according to the present embodiment
A line-of-sight detection system composed of members represented by 2, 4, 5a, 5b, 5c, and 6, and a signal processing circuit 10 serving as arithmetic means
9 includes an eyeball optical axis detection circuit, an eyeball discrimination circuit, a visual axis correction circuit, a gazing point detection circuit, and the like.

In the eye-gaze detecting system, the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting diode 5 illuminates the eye 201 of the observer located near the eye point E. In addition, the eyeball 20
The infrared light reflected by 1 forms an image on the photoelectric element array 6 while being reflected by the dichroic mirror 2 and converged by the light receiving lens 4. The signal processing circuit 109 is executed by software of the microcomputer 110.

Here, the line of sight detection will be described. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an essential part of the visual line detection system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an optical principle diagram of the visual line detection system. Infrared light emitting diode 5a for illumination,
5b and 5c are used in pairs to detect the distance between the camera and the observer's eyeball. The infrared light-emitting diodes 5a and 5b are used in a horizontal position, and the infrared light-emitting diodes 5b and 5c are used in accordance with the posture of the camera. Is used to detect the vertical position. Although the attitude detecting means of the camera is not shown in the figure, an attitude detecting means using a mercury switch or the like is effective.

The infrared light emitting diodes 5a and 5b are located at positions shifted with respect to the optical axis (X axis) of the light receiving lens 4 in the column direction (Z axis direction) of the photoelectric element column 6 and in a direction orthogonal to the column direction. Are located.

In FIG. 3A, the luminous fluxes from the infrared light emitting diodes 5a and 5b arranged separately in the column direction (Z-axis direction) of the photoelectric element array 6 are corneal reflected at positions separated in the Z-axis direction. Images e and d are formed, respectively. At this time, the Z coordinate of the middle point of the corneal reflection images e and d matches the Z coordinate of the center of curvature o of the cornea 21. Since the interval between the corneal reflection images e and d changes in accordance with the distance between the infrared light emitting diode and the eyeball of the observer, the positions e ′ and d ′ of the corneal reflection images re-imaged on the photoelectric element array 6. , It is possible to determine the imaging magnification β of the reflected image from the eyeball. FIG.
In (b), the infrared light emitting diodes 5a (5b) arranged in the direction orthogonal to the row direction of the photoelectric element row 6 illuminate the observer's eyeball from obliquely above, so that the observer's eyeball is vertical. When the image is not rotated in the direction (within the XY plane), the corneal reflection image e (d) is formed in the + Y direction in the figure with respect to the center of curvature of the cornea and the center of the pupil.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a reflection image from an eyeball projected on a plurality of photoelectric element row surfaces of the photoelectric element row 6 in this embodiment.

FIG. 4A shows a reflected image from the eyeball projected on the photoelectric element array 6. In this figure, the corneal reflection images e 'and d' are re-imaged on the photoelectric element row Yp '. FIG. 4B shows an output signal obtained from the photoelectric element array Yp 'at this time.

Next, the gaze detection method in this embodiment is shown in FIG.
Will be sequentially described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, an eyeball optical axis detecting circuit included in the signal processing circuit 109 detects the rotation angle of the eyeball optical axis. Next, the reading of the image signal of the photoelectric element array 6 is sequentially performed from the −Y direction shown in FIG. 4A to form the photoelectric element array (line) on which the corneal reflection images e ′ and d ′ are formed.
Yp 'is detected (S1). At the same time, the corneal reflection image e ',
The positions Zd 'and Ze' of occurrence of d 'in the column direction are detected (S
2), the imaging magnification β of the optical system is obtained from the interval | Zd'-Ze '| of the corneal reflection image (S3). Further, a boundary point Z between the iris 23 and the pupil 24 is located on the photoelectric element row (line) Yp '.
2b 'and Z2a' are detected (S4), and the photoelectric element row Y is detected.
The pupil diameter | Z2a'-Z2b '| on p' is calculated (S
5).

As shown in FIG. 4A, a photoelectric element array Yp 'on which a corneal reflection image is normally formed is generated in a -Y direction in the figure from a photoelectric element array Y0' having a pupil center C '. Another photoelectric element row Y1 'from which an image signal should be read is calculated from the values of the imaging magnification β and the pupil diameter (S
6). At this time, the photoelectric element row Y1 'is changed to the photoelectric element row Yp'.
Is set to have a sufficient interval with respect to. Similarly, the boundary point Z between the iris 23 and the pupil 24 on the photoelectric element row Y1 '
When 1a 'and Z1b' are detected (S7), the boundary points (Z1a ', Y1'), (Z1b ', Y1') and the boundary points (Z2a ', Yp'), (Z2b ', Yp') are detected. ), The center position C ′ (Z
c ', Yc'). Further, when the above equation (2) is modified using the positions (Zd ′, Yp ′) and (Ze ′, Yp ′) of the corneal reflection image, the rotation angles θz and θy of the optical axis of the eyeball are obtained.
Is

[0028]

(Equation 1)

Is satisfied (S8). However, δY ′ is that the re-imaging positions e ′ and d ′ of the corneal reflection image are the photoelectric elements because the infrared light emitting diode is arranged in the direction orthogonal to the row direction of the photoelectric element row 6 with respect to the light receiving lens 4. This is a value for correcting the shift in the Y-axis direction with respect to the Y coordinate of the center of curvature of the cornea 21 on the column 6.

Further, the eyeball discriminating circuit included in the signal processing circuit 109 discriminates whether the eye of the observer looking into the finder 101 is the right eye or the left eye, for example, from the calculated distribution of the rotation angle of the optical axis of the eyeball ( S9) Further, the visual axis correction circuit corrects the visual axis based on the eyeball discrimination information and the rotation angle of the optical axis of the eyeball (S10). In the gazing point detection circuit, the gazing point is calculated based on the optical constant of the finder optical system (S11).

Now, the microcomputer 110 of FIG.
In the program, a program for taking in pupil information as data, a program for correlating current information with stored data, a program for outputting drive data to a motor drive driver 8 for moving the eyepiece 1, and a drive driver 8 When the eyepiece 1 is moved by driving the motor 7 by the motor, there is a program which takes in the position information from the encoder 111 and stores it.

The operation of diopter correction according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. S21 is a program for determining whether or not the photographer has looked into the viewfinder 101.
This is determined by the eyeball discriminating circuit in the signal processing circuit 109. If it is confirmed that the user is looking through the viewfinder 101, the program proceeds to S22, in which the image information (pupil information) of the photographer's pupil is taken from the photoelectric element array 6 and stored. Since the shape of the eyes is different depending on the photographer, it is possible to distinguish individuals.

Next, the correlation between the data of the pupil information stored in the fetch memory in the past and the fetched data is represented by S2.
Take 3 If the photographer looks into the viewfinder 101 for the first time this time, there is no past data, so the program of S24 judges that there is no matching data in the past, and S26
Proceed to. Here, the diopter correction mark in the finder screen 102 is turned on to instruct the photographer to perform diopter correction. When the photographer finishes the diopter correction and presses any operation, for example, pressing a switch on the camera body, it is confirmed in S27, and in S28, the current lens position data and the pupil information data are stored in association with each other. As a result, the current best state of the diopter correction of the photographer is stored in the microcomputer 110. Finder 1 from next time
When the user looks into the image No. 01, the coincidence data is confirmed in the correlation in S23, and the lens automatically moves to the diopter correction position of the photographer having the pupil information (S2).
5).

Next, how to correlate the pupil information data described above will be described with reference to FIG. When correlating,
As shown in FIG. 7A, the area is divided into several parts, and one area is moved by ± 10 areas with respect to one area (one pupil information), and the absolute value of the difference in each area is calculated. Is determined by the level at which the sum of
When the correlation between (a) and (b) is obtained, the images match if the coordinates of (b) are moved by (2.2), but the calculation result for examining the correlation at this time is (c). Indicated by Then, it is determined whether or not the correlation is obtained based on the level of the minimum value in (c). However, it takes a long time to look at the entire screen, so that correlation is typically performed using representative points. This is a method in which several representative points are provided on the screen as shown in FIG.

When correlating the pupil video signal in this embodiment, the correlation is also based on the representative points. However, when the pupil is open and closed because the pupil size changes. May not be correlated with. Therefore,
A certain threshold level is provided for the level of the video signal of the pupil, and no correlation is made for a representative point below that level. As can be seen from FIG. 8B, the level of the light reflected from the pupil is low. So Figure 7
As shown in (f), a low level is excluded from the correlation so that the correlation can be reliably obtained.

The method of diopter correction has been described above. However, the drive motor 7 for the lens for correction may be of any type as long as it has high positional accuracy. In addition, in the embodiment, the instruction for manual diopter correction is displayed in the viewfinder screen 102. However, any instruction such as a warning sound that the photographer can know while looking through the viewfinder may be used.

Although the embodiment is a video camera, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an appropriate camera having a finder having a diopter correction mechanism.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The camera automatically corrects the diopter of the viewfinder. Therefore, there is no need to manually perform diopter correction each time as in the related art.Furthermore, since diopter correction is performed automatically each time, as a result, the accuracy of gaze detection is increased, and gaze detection is used. In a camera that performs camera processing, the operation can be performed more comfortably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of a gaze detection system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the optical principle of a gaze detection system.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a reflected image from an eyeball.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of gaze detection according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a diopter correction operation according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a correlation between pupil information data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the principle of gaze detection;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Eyepiece 2 Dichroic mirror 4 Light receiving lens 5a, 5b, 5c Illumination means 6 Photoelectric element row 7 Motor 8 Motor drive driver 109 Signal processing circuit 110 Microcomputer 201 Eyeball

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/225-5/232 G02B 7/11 G03B ⁷ /00-7/28 G03B 13/00-13 / 28

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pupil information detecting means for detecting information of a pupil looking through a finder, a diopter correcting means for correcting a diopter of the finder, and a diopter correction by the diopter correcting means .
A storage unit that stores the correction information when performed and the pupil information of the pupil information detection unit detected at that time in association with each other,
When looking into the finder, the pupil information detected by the pupil information detection means is compared with the pupil information stored in the storage means to determine whether the pupil is the same. A drive unit for driving the diopter correction unit based on the correction information stored in the storage unit in association with the pupil information when the pupil is determined. Luke camera. Wherein when unable to determine the same pupil at determining means, according to claim 1, wherein the camera to Toku徽further comprising an instruction means for instructing to operate the diopter correction means manually to the photographer.