JP3516143B2 - Imaging device and imaging method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and an image pickup method suitable for use when an image of a subject is picked up and recorded on a video tape and a signal recorded on the video tape is reproduced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic viewfinder (EVF) or an optical viewfinder (OVF) is used as a member for confirming the imaged subject when the subject is imaged by a video tape recorder integrated with a video camera.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional video camera recorder integrated with a video camera equipped with an EVF.
The user switches the camera / video changeover switch 105 to the camera side, presses the recording button 101, and looks into the EVF to check the subject while taking an image. This video camera integrated video tape recorder 30 records an image of a subject on a built-in video tape via the camera lens 104. At this time, the EVF displays the image actually taken, so that the user can accurately confirm the angle of view. Also, the user switches the camera / video switch 105 to the video side, and the play button 1
By pressing 02, the image recorded on the video tape can be reproduced and displayed on the EVF 103, and the captured result can be confirmed.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are views showing an example of a conventional video tape recorder integrated with a video camera provided with an OVF. The user can select the camera / video switch 11
5 is switched to the camera side, the recording button 120 is pressed, the OVF 111 is viewed, and the subject is imaged while confirming the subject. This video camera integrated video tape recorder 40
Captures a subject on a video tape via the camera lens 118. During recording, the recording LED 116 lights up.

OVF cannot monitor images recorded on a video tape. Therefore, LCD panel 11
3 is provided. The LCD panel 113 has an LCD
The imaging result can be displayed by turning on the panel switch 114. LCD panel switch 11
When 4 is turned off, nothing is displayed on the LCD panel 113.

The camera / video changeover switch 11
By switching 5 to the video side and pressing the play button 117, the image picked up on the LCD panel 113 can be played back, and a large number of people can enjoy the image.

[0007]

However, each of the video camera integrated video tape recorders shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 has the following problems. That is, in the case of the video camera integrated video tape recorder having only the EVF shown in FIG. 4, it is difficult for a large number of people to enjoy the pattern because the EVF screen is small when the recorded screen is reproduced.

Further, in the case of the video camera integrated video tape recorder equipped with the OVF shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the OVF 111 is usually used to confirm the subject.
The OVF 111 extracts a partial range of a captured image when elements such as digital zooming of a screen and wide television compatibility are added, and pixel data is interpolated or a predetermined upper and lower range is extracted in the range. Since signal processing such as cutting the range is performed, the image frame is different from the actual image pickup result, which makes it difficult to accurately image the subject in the desired range.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to reproduce and enjoy recorded images by a large number of people and to accurately capture an object in a desired range. The purpose is to

[0010]

An image pickup apparatus of the present invention comprises an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject and outputting it as an electrical image, and a first display means for displaying the output from the image pickup means.
Second display means, which is larger than the first display means and displays the output from the image pickup means, and control means for selectively displaying the output from the image pickup means on the first display means or the second display means. And a detection means for detecting the use state of the second display means, and the control means detects the output from the image pickup means when the detection means detects that the second display means is being used. When the detection means detects that the second display means is not being used by selectively supplying power to the second display means and cutting off the power supply to the first display means which is not displayed. It is characterized in that the power is selectively supplied to the display means and the power supply to the second display means not to be displayed is cut off.

The detection means detects that the second display means is not in use when the second display means is in the storage position, and detects the second display when the second display means is not in the storage position. It is possible to detect that the means is being used.

The detecting means is provided at the storage position and can be pressed by the second display means to detect that the second display means is at the storage position.

In the image pickup method of the present invention, an image pickup step of picking up an image of a subject and outputting it as an electrical image, and a first display means or a first display means for displaying the output of the processing of the image pickup step. The control step includes a control step of selectively displaying on a larger second display means and a detection step of detecting a use state of the second display means. The control step processing detects an output by the imaging step processing. When it is detected by the processing of the step that the second display means is used, the second display means is selectively supplied, and the power supply to the first display means not to be displayed is cut off, When it is detected by the processing of the detection step that the second display means is not used, the first display means is selectively supplied and the power supply to the second display means not to be displayed is cut off. This The features.

In the image pickup apparatus and the image pickup method of the present invention, a subject is imaged and outputted as an electrical image to the first display means or the second display means larger than the first display means, and the second display means. The usage state of the display means is detected.
When it is detected that the second display means is used, its output is selectively supplied to the second display means, and the power supply to the first display means not to be displayed is cut off, When it is detected that the second display means is not used, its output is selectively supplied to the first display means, and the power supply to the second display means not to be displayed is cut off.

[0015]

1 and 2 are diagrams showing the configuration of an embodiment of a video tape recorder integrated with a video camera according to the present invention. The video camera integrated videotape recorder 10 switches the camera / video changeover switch 2c to the camera side and presses the recording button 2a to pick up an image of a subject through the camera lens 5.

The imaged image is EVF1 or
It is adapted to be displayed on the LCD panel 4. The user of the video tape recorder 10 with the integrated video camera can selectively use the EVF 1 or the LCD panel 4 in order to confirm this image.

When the LCD panel 4 is used, this LC
The D panel 4 is opened (the state shown in FIG. 1).
At this time, an image is displayed on the LCD panel 4 and is not displayed on the EVF 1. When the EVF 1 is used, the LCD panel 4 is closed (the state shown in FIG. 2) and the image is confirmed by looking through the EVF 1. LC
When the D panel 4 is closed, the LCD panel switch 6 is pushed in and the LCD panel 4 is turned off.

Further, when the recorded image is reproduced, the camera / video changeover switch 2c is switched to the video side, and the reproduction button 2b is pressed, so that the EVF 1 or the LCD is displayed.
This image is displayed on the panel 4.
In this case also, the user can change the display screen to EVF according to the purpose.
1 or the LCD panel 4 can be selected.

When the LCD panel 4 is selected, the LCD
The panel 4 is opened (the state shown in FIG. 1). At this time, an image is displayed on the LCD panel 4 and no image is displayed on the EVF 1. At this time, the speaker 3 outputs sound.
When EVF1 is selected, the LCD panel 4 is closed (the state shown in FIG. 2). Further, when the LCD panel 4 is closed, the LCD panel switch 6 is pushed in and the LCD panel 4 is turned off.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the internal structure of the video camera integrated video tape recorder 10 shown in FIG. CC
The image sensor 21 including D or the like converts the captured image of the subject into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal to the signal processing circuit 22. The signal processing circuit 22 processes the input signal and outputs it to the recording / reproducing circuit 23. The recording / reproducing circuit 23 records the input video signal on the video tape 23A. The audio signal is collected by a microphone (not shown), input to the recording / reproducing circuit 23, and recorded on the video tape 23A.

The operation button 2 is composed of buttons such as a recording button 2a, a reproduction button 2b, a camera / video switching button 2c, etc., and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the pressed button to a control circuit 24 including a microcomputer. Has been done. Also, LCD panel switch 6
1 outputs an ON signal to the control circuit 24 when the LCD panel 4 of FIG. 1 is open and an OFF signal when the LCD panel 4 is closed. The control circuit 24 outputs control signals to the recording / reproducing circuit 23, the EVF / LCD changeover switch 25, and the power supply circuit 26 in response to signals from the operation buttons 2 and the LCD panel switch 6.

The recording / reproducing circuit 23 selects a video signal output from the image pickup device 21 or a reproduction signal from the video tape 23A and outputs it to the EVF / LCD changeover switch 25. The EVF / LCD changeover switch 25 outputs the output from the recording / reproducing circuit 23 to the LCD panel 4 or EVF.
1 is selectively output.

The power supply circuit 26 supplies necessary power to each circuit and selectively supplies power to the LCD panel 4 or the EVF 1 in response to a control signal from the control circuit 24. .

Next, the operation of the video tape recorder 10 integrated with a video camera will be described. When a subject is imaged, the camera / video switch 2c is switched to the camera side, the recording button 2a of the operation button 2 is pressed, and the signal is input to the control circuit 24. At this time, the control circuit 24 starts the photographing operation.

The image pickup device 21 converts an image of a subject into an electric signal and outputs it to the signal processing circuit 22. Signal processing circuit 2
Reference numeral 2 processes the input signal and outputs it to the recording / reproducing circuit 23 as an NTSC video signal. The recording / reproducing circuit 23 records the input video signal on the video tape 23A.

When the LCD panel 4 is used to confirm the subject, the LCD panel 4 is opened as shown in FIG. At this time, the LCD panel switch 6 is not pushed, and a signal indicating that the LCD panel 4 is ON is input from the LCD panel switch 6 to the control circuit 24. EVF
When using 1 to check the subject, as shown in FIG.
The LCD panel 4 is closed. At this time, LCD
The panel switch 6 is pushed in, and a signal for turning off the LCD panel 4 is input from the LCD panel switch 6 to the control circuit 24.

The control circuit 24 uses the LCD panel switch 6
A signal corresponding to the ON / OFF control signal of the LCD panel 4 input from the EVF / LCD changeover switch 25.
And output to the power supply circuit 26.

The EVF / LCD changeover switch 25 is responsive to a control signal from the control circuit 24, and the LCD panel 4
LCD panel 4 when is ON (when it is open)
Side, when it is OFF (when it is closed), EVF
The signals input to the recording / reproducing circuit 23 are switched to the 1 side and output to the EVF 1 or the LCD panel 4.

Further, the power supply circuit 26 uses the input LCD
Power is supplied to the LCD panel 4 when ON and to the EVF 1 when OFF according to the ON / OFF signal of the panel 4. As a result, the power in the non-used state is cut off, so that wasteful consumption of power is suppressed.

Through such an operation, EVF1 or L
The signal from the image sensor 21 is output to one side of the CD panel 4,
Is displayed.

To reproduce the image recorded on the video tape 23A, the camera / video changeover switch 2c of the operation button 2 is switched to the video side, and the reproduction button 2 is selected.
A reproduction command signal is input to the control circuit 24 by pressing b. At this time, the control circuit 24 controls the recording / reproducing circuit 23 to reproduce the video tape 23A. This reproduction signal is also selectively output and displayed on the EVF 1 or the LCD panel 4 via the EVF / LCD changeover switch 25. Even in this case, if the LCD panel 4 is open, the reproduced image is displayed there, and if it is closed, E is displayed.
It is displayed on VF1.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, both the first display means and the second display means are configured to electrically display an image. Even when the signal processing is performed for this purpose, not only can the user confirm the same range as the range that is actually being imaged, but also a large number of people can enjoy the recording screen. Also, because I'm trying to display the image on only one of both,
Wasted consumption of electric power is suppressed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a video tape recorder integrated with a video camera of the present invention in a state where an LCD panel 4 is opened.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the video camera integrated video tape recorder shown in FIG. 1 in a state in which an LCD panel 4 is closed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the video camera integrated video tape recorder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an example of a video tape recorder integrated with a video camera, which is provided with a conventional EVF.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration on a photographer side of an example of a video tape recorder with a built-in video camera provided with a conventional OVF.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a subject side of the video camera integrated video tape recorder shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Electronic viewfinder (EVF) 2
Operation buttons 3 Speaker 4 LCD panel 5
Camera lens 6 LCD panel switch 7 Battery case 21 Image sensor 22 Signal processing circuit 23 Recording / reproducing circuit 24 Control circuit 25 E
VF / LCD selector switch 26 power supply circuit 101 recording button 102 playback button 104 camera lens 105 camera / video selector switch
106 Battery Case 111 Optical Viewfinder (OVF) 112 Speaker 113 L
CD panel 114 LCD panel switch 115
Camera / video switch 116 Recording LED 1
17 Play Button 118 Camera Lens 119
Battery case

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject and outputting it as an electric image, a first display means for displaying an output from the image pickup means, and a larger image pickup means than the first display means. Second display means for displaying an output from the second display means, a control means for selectively displaying the output from the imaging means on the first display means or the second display means, and the second display means. Detecting means for detecting the use state of the second display means, when the detection means detects that the second display means is used, the control means detects the output from the image pickup means. When the detection means detects that the second display means is not being used, the power supply to the first display means that is not displayed is selectively supplied to the display means, and the first display means is not used. Display means by selectively supplying to An image pickup apparatus, characterized in that the supply of electric power to the second display unit that is not turned off is cut off. 2. The detecting means detects that the second display means is not in use when the second display means is in the storage position, and the second display means is not in the storage position. At this time, it is detected that the second display means is being used, and the photographing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The detecting means is provided in the storage position, and is pressed by the second display means to detect that the second display means is in the storage position. The imaging device according to claim 2. 4. An image pickup step of picking up an image of a subject and outputting the image as an electric image, and an output of the processing of the image pickup step is displayed by a first display unit that displays an image, or is larger than the first display unit. A control step of selectively displaying on the second display means; and a detection step of detecting a use state of the second display means, wherein the processing of the control step includes the output of the processing of the imaging step, When it is detected by the processing of the detection step that the second display means is being used, the first display means is selectively supplied to the second display means and is not displayed.
The power supply to the display means is shut off, and when it is detected by the processing of the detecting step that the second display means is not used, the power is selectively supplied to the first display means, An imaging method, characterized in that the supply of electric power to the second display means that is not displayed is cut off.