JP3543135B2 - Camera device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an electronic still camera, various photographing conditions such as a shutter speed and an aperture value on the apparatus side can be automatically set or manually set according to a photographer's preference. Furthermore, a plurality of shooting modes for automatically setting shooting conditions suitable for the type of the subject such as portrait, landscape, and night view are prepared, and the shooting mode is selected in advance by the photographer, so that the shutter is released. In many cases, even beginners who do not have specialized knowledge such as speed and aperture value can set more appropriate shooting conditions.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case where the shooting conditions are automatically set in accordance with the plurality of shooting modes described above, since the number of shooting modes is generally small, the setting contents of the shooting conditions prepared in advance for each type of subject are the greatest common denominator. It will be. Therefore, it is impossible to set photographing conditions that match all subjects, and photographing results are not always obtained according to the photographer's preference. For this reason, it is conceivable to prepare more shooting modes, but in such a case, it becomes difficult to understand the differences between the shooting modes, and this may cause confusion in setting the shooting modes especially for beginners. There was a problem.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and has as its object to provide a camera device that can easily set more appropriate shooting conditions according to a subject.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera device capable of setting a plurality of photographing modes according to the type of a subject, wherein the photographing device performs photographing according to each of the photographing modes. Control means for controlling conditions, sample image storage means for storing a plurality of sample images serving as samples of the subject corresponding to the shooting mode, display means for displaying the sample images stored in the sample image storage means, A selection means for selecting any one of the sample images displayed on the display means and a setting means for setting a photographing mode corresponding to the sample image selected by the selection means are provided.
[0006]
In such a configuration, when any one of the sample images displayed on the display means is selected, the shooting mode according to the type of the subject represented by the sample image is automatically set. Therefore, the user can select a shooting mode according to the type of the subject via the sample image that allows the type of the subject to be intuitively understood.
[0007]
Further, in the invention according to claim 2, a display control means for controlling a display order of the plurality of sample images on the display means in a history order selected in the past by the selection means in response to a request of a user. It was provided. In such a configuration, the user can change the display order of the plurality of sample images in the order of history as necessary.
[0008]
Further, in the invention according to claim 3, storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of description information for explaining the contents of the shooting conditions corresponding to the shooting mode, and reading the description information corresponding to the sample image from the storage means And control means for displaying the sample image on the display means. In such a configuration, at the time of selecting a sample image, explanation information describing the contents of the photographing conditions is displayed, so that the photographing result corresponding to the subject can be easily known.
[0009]
Further, according to the invention of claim 4, a storage means for storing advice information for instructing a shooting operation suitable for shooting a subject represented by each sample image stored in the sample image storage means; And control means for reading the corresponding advice information from the storage means and displaying it on the display means. In such a configuration, the user can obtain an ideal photographing result under the photographing condition controlled by the selected photographing mode by performing the photographing operation according to the advice information displayed on the display means.
[0010]
Further, according to the invention of claim 5, there is further provided an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject, a display means for displaying a through image picked up by the image pickup means in a shooting standby state, and a sample selected by the selection means. Control means for displaying, when the image is a predetermined sample image, a frame image indicating a screen configuration suitable for photographing a subject corresponding to the sample image selected by the selection means, in the through image; did. In such a configuration, the user can obtain an ideal photographing result under the photographing conditions controlled by the selected photographing mode by performing the framing according to the frame image.
[0011]
Further, according to the invention of claim 6, there is provided an auto-focus function, wherein the control means sets a focus position in a predetermined area of the through image indicated by the frame image, and sets a focus position indicating the set focus position. A mark is displayed on the through image. In such a configuration, by performing framing according to the frame image, the user can obtain an imaging result in an ideal focus state under imaging conditions controlled by the selected imaging mode.
[0012]
Further, the invention according to claim 7 is provided with an automatic exposure control function for performing spot metering at a metering position set in the subject and performing exposure control based on the metering result. The photometric position is set within a predetermined area of the through image shown. In such a configuration, by performing framing in accordance with the frame image, the user can obtain a shooting result in an ideal exposure state under shooting conditions controlled in the selected shooting mode.
Further, according to the invention of claim 8, an image storage means for recording the photographed image as image data, a photographing condition and a sample image and a photographing condition corresponding to the photographing condition. Additional information including the corresponding scene description or advice information or control description A photographing condition storing means for storing the photographing condition, a display means for displaying additional information corresponding to the photographing condition and a sample image corresponding to the photographing condition, and a photographing condition stored in the photographing condition storing means, Setting means for setting the photographing conditions corresponding to the sample image and the additional information displayed on the means as photographing conditions of the apparatus in response to a user's request. In this configuration, the user can obtain an ideal photographing result under the photographing conditions controlled by the selected photographing mode by performing the photographing operation according to the information displayed on the display means.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are views showing the appearance of an electronic still camera 1 according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a rear view, FIG. 1B is a plan view, and FIG. 1C is a front view.
[0014]
The electronic still camera 1 has a fixed lens 4 on the front side, a TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 on the back side, and further has an optical finder 51 and a strobe 19. A power switch 52, a shutter key 53, a zoom operation switch 54, an operation mode changeover switch 55 for switching between a recording mode (REC mode) and a reproduction mode (PLAY mode) are provided on the back and top of the electronic still camera 1. Various switches such as a liquid crystal monitor switch 56, a flash key 57, a self-timer key 58, and a menu key 59 are provided.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of the electronic still camera 1. The electronic still camera 1 has an image processing function such as converting an image captured by a CCD 2 serving as an imaging unit into a JPEG format. The MPU 3 is mainly provided. An optical image of the subject is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 2 through the fixed lens 4, the focus lens 5, and the aperture 6. The focus lens 5 is held by a drive mechanism 7 composed of an AF motor or the like, and is moved back and forth on the optical axis by a drive signal output from the AF driver 8 being supplied to the drive mechanism 7 by a control signal from the MPU 3. Perform focusing operation. The aperture 6 is driven by a drive signal generated by an aperture drive unit 9 based on a control signal from the MPU 3 and adjusts the amount of light of the subject image incident on the CCD 2.
[0016]
A timing generator (TG) 10 that generates a timing signal is connected to the MPU 3. A V driver 11 (vertical driver) drives the CCD 2 based on the timing signal generated by the TG 10, and the CCD 2 accordingly moves the subject. An analog imaging signal corresponding to the luminance of the image is output and sent to the unit circuit 12. The unit circuit 12 converts a CDS holding an image signal output from the CCD 2, a gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) that is an analog amplifier supplied with the image signal from the CDS, and an image signal amplified and adjusted by the gain adjustment amplifier. An A / D converter (AD) for converting the image data into image data. The output signal of the CCD 2 is sampled with the black level adjusted here and sent to the MPU 3 as a digital signal. The transmitted digital signal (imaging signal) is temporarily stored in the DRAM 13, is subjected to various image processing by the MPU 3, and is finally stored in the flash memory (FLASH) 14 as a compressed video signal. . The stored video signal is read by the MPU 3 as necessary, and is generated into a digital video signal or an analog video signal through processing such as expansion processing, addition of a luminance signal and a color signal, and the like.
[0017]
Further, the MPU 3 is connected to an MROM 15, a power supply circuit 16, an operation key unit 17 including various switch groups shown in FIG. 1, the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18, and the strobe 19. The MROM 15 is a program ROM in which an operation program of the MPU 3 is recorded. Further, the MROM 9 stores program AE data forming a program diagram showing a combination of an aperture value (F) corresponding to an appropriate exposure value (EV) at the time of shooting and a shutter speed. The MPU 3 functions as a setting unit, a limiting unit, and a display control unit of the present invention by operating according to the operation program using a built-in RAM as a working memory. In addition, according to the program diagram, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 2, the degree of opening of the aperture 6, the gain of the gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) of the unit circuit 12, and the like are set. The charge accumulation time set by the MPU 3 is supplied as a shutter pulse to the V driver 11 via the TG 10, and the V driver 11 drives the CCD 2 in accordance therewith, thereby controlling the charge accumulation time, that is, the exposure time. That is, the CCD 2 functions as an electronic shutter. The operation program stored in the MROM 9 includes a program relating to autofocus control. Based on the program, the MPU 3 drives the focus lens 5 to perform focusing (autofocus).
[0018]
The TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 displays sequentially captured images as through images in the recording mode, and displays a video based on an analog video signal generated from the image data recorded in the flash memory 14 in the reproduction mode. The strobe light 19 is driven as necessary to emit an auxiliary light when operating the image capturing key (at the time of photographing).
[0019]
The MROM 15 is a sample image storage unit and a storage unit of the present invention. Apart from the above-mentioned data, the MROM 15 is the photographing condition data 101 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the additional information data 102 shown in FIG. Image data constituting a plurality of sample images 103 as illustrated in (a) to (c) is stored. Although each sample image 103 is shown as a schematic image in this drawing, it is actually an actually photographed image or an image similar thereto. The photographing condition data 101 is a photographing condition of the electronic still camera 1 set in advance corresponding to each of a plurality of scene photographing modes (29 types in the present embodiment) selectable when setting a scene select mode described later. And more specifically, is constituted by the following data as shown in the figure. That is, it is configured by parameters indicating control contents of a plurality of control items that can be controlled in the electronic still camera 1, such as focus control, shutter speed, aperture, EV shift amount, sensitivity,.
[0020]
The additional information data 102 (FIG. 5) is additional information data stored in correspondence with the above-described scene shooting mode together with the shooting condition data, and specifically, a scene description such as "Scene and person is taken." , And the control information such as "The macro mode is set and the saturation is set higher." The plurality of sample images 103 shown in FIG. 6 are images that correspond to each scene shooting mode together with the shooting condition data and the additional information data, and serve as sample samples of subjects suitable for shooting in each scene shooting mode. FIG. 6A is a sample image corresponding to the scene shooting mode “1” (person and landscape 1), and FIG. 6B is a sample image corresponding to the scene shooting mode “2” (human and landscape 2). FIG. 3C is an example of a sample image corresponding to “3” (up) in the scene shooting mode.
[0021]
The program data and the like stored in the above-described MROM 15 may be provided separately or in another recording medium such as an IC card that can be detachably attached, if the recorded contents can be retained. It may be configured to be recorded, and further, may be configured to be able to supply the program data or the like from another device such as a personal computer. In the DRAM 13, an area for storing the selection history order data 104 shown in FIG. 7 is secured separately from the above-described digital signal storage area at the time of imaging. The selection history table 104 is a table indicating the display order of the above-described sample image 103 and the additional information data 102 (each comment data) at the time of setting a scene select mode to be described later, and includes display order data (1 in this embodiment). No. to No. 29) and the scene number of the shooting mode corresponding to the order. At the beginning of using the electronic still camera 1 or immediately after battery replacement, the display order data and the scene number match.
[0022]
Next, the operation of the electronic still camera 1 having the above configuration after the mode selection is designated by operating the menu key 59 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0023]
That is, in the electronic still camera 1, when the photographing mode setting mode is selected, first, a mode selection screen 201 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 (step S1). The mode selection screen 201 includes three shooting modes of “normal (full auto)”, “portrait”, “landscape”, and “night scene” similar to those described in the related art, and a shooting mode according to the present invention. Is a screen for selecting one of a scene select mode for designating and a predetermined function setting mode. In addition to displaying a selection candidate of these, a predetermined operation is performed in a state where this screen is displayed. The explanation of the assigned key is displayed at the same time.
[0024]
Next, it is determined whether or not the function setting mode has been selected and a display order switching operation has been performed by a predetermined key operation (step S2). If the display order switching operation has not been performed, scene selection continues. It is determined whether or not the mode has been selected (step S3). Here, if the scene select mode is not selected (NO in step S3), the process returns to step S1, and if another mode is selected, the operation shifts to the operation in that mode. On the other hand, when the scene select mode has been selected, the display on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 is switched to the scene select selection screen 202 shown in FIG. 10 (step S4).
[0025]
FIG. 10 shows the scene selection selection screen 202 in the initial setting state. The scene selection selection screen 202 displayed here includes the scene number “1” of the shooting mode and the sample image 103 corresponding thereto. , Additional information, that is, a scene description (“scenery and people are captured.”) And advice information (“a frame is displayed.”) Are displayed. When the sample image 103 of the scene number having the corresponding control description is displayed, the control description is also displayed. Further, the description of the keys assigned to the predetermined operation is also continuously displayed on the scene select selection screen 202. Thereafter, in response to the operation of the selection button (in this embodiment, [+] and [-] of the zoom button 54), the scene number “1” constituting the scene selection selection screen 202, the sample image 103, and the additional information Are changed while changing the order of scene numbers in ascending order or descending order, that is, feed display is performed (step S5).
[0026]
On the other hand, if the shutter key 53 (enter key) is pressed while any of the sample images 103 or the like is displayed, that is, any of the shooting modes is selected (YES in step S6), first, The order of the scene number data in the selection history table 104 described above is moved up to the position corresponding to the first display order of the scene number corresponding to the sample image 103 selected here, and the other scene numbers are An update process of the selection history table 104 is sequentially performed, while maintaining the previous arrangement order (step S7). Next, the photographing conditions at the time of photographing in the electronic still camera 1 are set based on the parameters set according to the scene number corresponding to the selected sample image 103, and the mode shifts to the REC mode, where the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 is displayed. A through image is displayed (step S8). In other words, a shooting standby state is set.
[0027]
In other words, when the photographer selects the sample image 103 corresponding to the subject to be photographed, the photographing conditions suitable for photographing the subject are automatically set. Therefore, even if there are a large number of shooting modes in which shooting conditions are set more finely than before, as shown in FIGS. It is possible to easily set appropriate photographing conditions. At the same time, it is possible to easily obtain a shooting result according to the photographer's preference.
[0028]
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the focus mode set in accordance with the selected scene number is area identification (step S9). If the result of this determination is NO, there is no movement of the focus area and FIG. As shown in the figure, a focus mark 203 is displayed at the center of the through image 301. On the other hand, for example, when the number of the selected scene is “1” to “6” and a scene including a person as a subject is selected (YES in step S9), as shown in FIG. A frame image 204 showing the arrangement of persons suitable for the scene is displayed in the through image 301, the focus area is moved to a predetermined area corresponding to the frame image 204, and a focus mark 203 is displayed in that area. (Step S10). Therefore, the photographer obtains an ideal photographing result under appropriate photographing conditions corresponding to a scene selected by himself / herself simply by performing framing for arranging a person or the like at a position corresponding to the frame image 204. It becomes possible. Note that the example of the through image 301 illustrated in FIG. 12 is a case where the selected scene number is “2” and the scene is “person and landscape 2”.
[0029]
When the result of the determination in step S9 is NO, and after the processing in step S10 is completed, the light metering method set corresponding to the selected scene number is spot light metering (multi). It is determined whether or not it is (step S11). When the selected scene number is “1” or the like and the result of the determination is YES, the spot metering position in the through image 301 is set to the position set corresponding to the selected scene. Move (step S12). For example, when the selected scene number is “1”, the spot metering position is moved to a predetermined area corresponding to the frame image 204. Therefore, the photographer only needs to perform framing to place a person at a position corresponding to the frame image 204, and obtain a photographing result in an ideal exposure state under appropriate photographing conditions corresponding to a scene selected by the photographer. Can be obtained.
[0030]
The display state of the through image 301 described above is maintained until the shutter key 53 is pressed (NO in step S13), and if the shutter key 53 is pressed during that time (YES in step S13), the above-described step S8 is performed. The image is captured under the image capturing conditions set in step (1), and the captured image is recorded (step S14). Thereafter, until the scene select mode is released (NO in step S15), the operations from step S4 are repeated, and when the scene select mode is released, the process returns to step S1.
[0031]
On the other hand, during the above operation, if the function setting mode is selected and the display order is switched by a predetermined key operation at any time when the scene select mode is selected (NO in step S2), The display order of the sample image 103 and the additional information corresponding to the sample image 103 in step S5 after the scene select mode is selected is indicated by the selection history table 104 which is sequentially caught in step S7 from the scene number order (default order). The history is switched in the order of history (step S16). Therefore, the photographer can switch the display order of the sample images 103 and the like in the selected state of the scene select mode in the history order as needed, and thereby, when selecting the photographing mode in the scene select mode, Frequently used photographing modes can be immediately selected, which is convenient.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, when a shooting mode is selected in the scene selection mode, the frame image 204 is displayed according to the selected shooting mode, and the focus area is set to a predetermined area corresponding to the frame image 204. Has been described, and the focus mark 203 is displayed in that area. For example, from the mode selection screen 201 shown in FIG. The same processing may be performed even when selected. Even in such a case, it is possible to obtain a shooting result in an ideal exposure state in such a shooting mode.
[0033]
Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the above-described imaging condition data 101, additional information data 102, and image data forming a plurality of sample images 103 are stored in the MROM 15 has been described. Each data may be received from another device such as a personal computer and stored in the storage device, or may be received from another device via a communication device such as the Internet and stored in the storage device. With such a configuration, the shooting modes that can be used in the scene select mode can be easily updated. In particular, when communication means such as the Internet is used, a shooting method that is popular at each time is used. A photographing mode in which photographing can be performed can be promptly used by the apparatus.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the user can intuitively understand the type of the subject. Through the sample image and the description information corresponding to the sample image, The shooting mode can be selected according to the type of the subject. Therefore, even when there are many types of shooting modes, anyone can easily set appropriate shooting conditions for the subject without causing confusion in the setting of the shooting mode. At the same time, the photographing result can be easily obtained according to the photographer's preference.
[0035]
In the invention described in claim 2, a plurality of Since the user can change the display order of the sample images in the order of history as necessary, by changing the display order of the sample images in the order of history, the user can respond to the type of frequently used subject. The photographing mode can be immediately selected, and the usability can be improved.
[0036]
According to the third and eighth aspects of the present invention, when selecting a sample image, when selecting a sample image, the contents of shooting conditions will be described. Since the description information is displayed on the same screen, Since the photographing result corresponding to the subject can be easily known, more photographing modes can be provided without causing confusion in the setting.
[0037]
Further, according to the invention of claim 4, Includes information including scene description or advice information or control description corresponding to each sample image. By performing a shooting operation according to the above, an ideal shooting result can be obtained under shooting conditions controlled in the selected shooting mode.
[0038]
In the fifth aspect of the invention, the user By performing framing according to the frame image, it is possible to obtain an imaging result in an ideal focus state or exposure state under imaging conditions controlled in the selected imaging mode.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an electronic still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing photographing condition data recorded in a program ROM.
FIG. 4 is a view following FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing additional information data recorded in a program ROM.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a sample image recorded in a program ROM.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a selection history table recorded in a DRAM.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electronic still camera at the time of shooting using the scene select mode.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a mode selection screen.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a scene select selection screen and changes thereof.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a screen configuration of a through image in a normal state.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a screen configuration of a through image after a specific scene is selected.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 electronic still camera
2 CCD
3 MPU
13 DRAM
15 MROM
101 Shooting condition data
102 Additional information data
103 Sample Image
104 Selection history table
202 Scene select screen
204 frame image
301 through image

Claims (9)

A camera device capable of setting a plurality of shooting modes according to the type of a subject,
Control means for controlling shooting conditions of the apparatus at the time of shooting according to each shooting mode,
Storage means for storing a plurality of sample images corresponding to the shooting modes and explanation information for explaining the contents of the shooting conditions;
Display means for displaying the sample image stored in the storage means and explanatory information corresponding to the sample image;
Selecting means for selecting the sample image displayed on the display means;
A camera device comprising: setting means for setting a photographing mode corresponding to the sample image selected by the selecting means. 2. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a display control unit configured to control a display order of the plurality of sample images on the display unit in a history order selected in the past by the selection unit in response to a user request. apparatus. 3. The camera device according to claim 1, further comprising a display control unit configured to read the explanatory information corresponding to the sample image from the storage unit and arrange the image on the same screen together with the sample image and display the same on the display unit. 4. . 4. The camera device according to claim 1 , wherein the storage unit stores the description information including scene description, advice information, or control description corresponding to each sample image stored in the storage unit. 5. Further, imaging means for imaging the subject,
The display means for displaying a through image captured in a shooting standby state by the imaging means;
When the sample image selected by the selection unit is a predetermined sample image, a frame image indicating a screen configuration suitable for photographing a subject corresponding to the sample image selected by the selection unit is displayed in the through image. The camera device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit. Further equipped with auto focus means,
6. The control unit according to claim 5, wherein the control unit sets a focus position within a predetermined area of the through image indicated by the frame image, and displays a focus mark indicating the set focus position on the through image. Camera device. Automatic exposure control means for performing spot metering at a photometric position set within the subject and performing exposure control based on the photometric result, wherein the control means includes a photometric position within a predetermined area of a through image indicated by the frame image. 7. The camera device according to claim 5, wherein Image storage means for recording a captured image as image data,
Shooting condition storage means for storing shooting conditions and a sample image corresponding to the shooting conditions and additional information including scene description or advice information or control description corresponding to the shooting conditions,
Display means for displaying additional information corresponding to the shooting conditions and a sample image corresponding to the shooting conditions;
Setting means for setting, as a photographing condition of the apparatus, a photographing condition stored in the photographing condition storage means, the photographing condition corresponding to the sample image and the additional information displayed on the display means; A camera device comprising: 9. The camera device according to claim 8 , wherein the display unit displays a sample image and additional information corresponding to the shooting conditions stored in the shooting condition storage unit on the same screen.

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