JP3948652B2 - Imaging device having scene selection function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a still camera and a video camera having a scene selection function in which shooting parameters are set according to various shooting scenes.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, shooting parameters including exposure values and shutter speeds suitable for specific shooting scenes such as portrait shooting, distant shooting, and sports shooting are recorded in the camera control unit in advance in the imaging device, and the user can A camera that has a scene selection function that automatically sets shooting parameters, etc. so that the settings are appropriate for the selected shooting scene, or the shooting device determines the shooting scene and automatically selects and sets various shooting scenes. There is something to do.
[0003]
In addition, in order to cope with various shooting scenes in the scene selection function, there are imaging devices having many scene options.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in an imaging device having a scene selection function, if there are many types of shooting scenes to be set, it takes time to select the shooting scene, which complicates the operation, and instant shooting is lost or erroneous. If the selected shooting scene is selected, shooting may fail.
[0005]
Further, in an imaging apparatus that performs scene determination and automatically selects a scene, the more shooting scenes to be determined, the more difficult the scene determination becomes and the higher the possibility of erroneous scene determination. For this reason, the problem that it may not be set to the imaging | photography scene which a user wants to select arises.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problems, and has a scene selection function that makes it easy to select a scene even when there are many shooting scenes to be set, and can reduce the trouble or mistake of scene selection. An imaging device is provided.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in an imaging apparatus having a scene selection function in which shooting parameters are set according to various shooting scenes, shooting conditions are shot with reference to information related to shooting. Is equipped with a control means that rearranges the scene display items in the order of good shooting conditions and displays a scene selection menu. The user can select the scene from the most likely scene by arranging the display in the order of the most likely shooting scenes. This makes it easier to search for scenes.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image pickup apparatus having the scene selection function according to the first aspect, information relating to photographing is set as a luminance value, and this structure causes underexposure or overexposure. By making the scenes unselectable or lower in the selection order, the failure of shooting by selecting scenes is reduced, and a scene that is likely to be shot well as the number of selectable scenes. Since the aperture is narrowed down, the operation of selecting a scene is simplified even when the number of shooting scenes prepared in advance is large.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image pickup apparatus having the scene selection function according to the first aspect, information relating to photographing is obtained by taking an average of R, G, and B values in the entire photographing screen or a partial area. It is characterized by the obtained color data, and by this configuration, it is prohibited to select shooting scenes that are unlikely to be shot well by judging the possibility of adapting scenes by referring to the color data In addition to reducing shooting failures with the selected scene settings, the number of scenes that can be selected is limited to highly probable scenes, making it easy to select scenes even when there are a large number of shooting scenes prepared in advance. become.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image pickup apparatus having the scene selection function according to the first aspect, information relating to photographing is time data, and this configuration determines the possibility of a photographing scene based on time. In addition, by prohibiting the selection of scenes that are unlikely to be shot well, it is possible to reduce scene selection failures and reduce shooting failures, and to reduce the number of scenes that can be selected. Selection operation is simplified.
[0011]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image pickup apparatus having the scene selection function according to the first aspect, the information relating to the photographing is the luminance value according to the second aspect, the color data according to the third aspect, or the time according to the fourth aspect. It is characterized by combining data with this data, and with this configuration, it is more accurate to determine a scene that is unlikely to fail even if set, or a scene that is unlikely to produce good shooting results. Will be done.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a photographing lens driven through a zoom driver 3 and a focus driver 4 under the control of a CPU (central processing unit) 2, and 5 denotes an aperture and a shutter under the control of the CPU (central processing unit) 2. A driver for setting, 6 is a CCD (imaging device) that receives a photographed image through a photographing lens 1 and an aperture by an aperture, and 7 is a CDS, AGC, A / D, etc. that receives image data from the CCD 6 and performs data processing. A data processing unit 8, a timing adjustment unit 8 for controlling the processing timing of data, 9 an image processing unit for receiving image data from the data processing unit 7 and processing digital color video signals such as RGB and white balance, Reference numeral 10 denotes a data compression processing unit that performs data processing such as JPEG, and 11 denotes the storage of video data processed as described above. Is a memory card.
[0015]
Further, 12 is a DRAM which is a memory for temporarily storing video data, 13 is a liquid crystal monitor (LCD), 14 is a sub-LCD, 15 is an operation unit for inputting / setting various data, and mode is a power battery. , 17 is an AC adapter for connecting to a commercial power source, and 18 is a DC / DC converter for electrically connecting the power battery 16 and the AC adapter 17 to each part.
[0016]
FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts relating to shooting scene selection control of a reference example for explaining the present embodiment. When the user turns on the power, the recording displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 13 as shown in FIG. The flow starts when the scene select mode is set to “ON” from the menu and a shooting standby state (through image display) is entered.
[0017]
First, the CPU 2 captures shooting data at the time of shooting (during monitoring) (S1). For example, it is assumed that the shooting situation is luminance: LV10, color data: R is 150, G is 180, B is 80, and time is 3 pm. The CPU 2 receives the shooting data, acquires the table data of the scene, and makes a scene suitability determination (S2). Although this table data is not shown in FIG. 1, it is stored in a ROM or the like, and is expanded in the work RAM of the CPU 2.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 6, the table data is obtained by taking an average of each value of R, G, and B in a scene, luminance data and color information suitable for the scene (the entire photographing screen or a partial area). The range of color data) and time data are set and stored in advance. For example, in the case of the fireworks mode, if the luminance data does not fall between LV1 and LV4, may there be a possibility of shooting failure? Therefore, it is out of the conforming range where the possibility of obtaining a good photographing result is low. As the scene suitability determination, as shown in FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not the luminance data, the R, G, and B color data, and the time data are within the suitability range.
[0019]
In the CPU 2, the scene matching determination is performed for all of the photographic scenes (S3), and those not matching (NO in S3) are stored so as to be deleted (cannot be selected) from the menu (S4). In this case, there are three suitable shooting scenes: distant view, portrait, and sport. Since the remaining scenes become settable scenes, the CPU 2 displays a selection menu as shown in FIG. 5 on the liquid crystal monitor 13 as shooting modes (far view, portrait, and sport) in which scenes can be set. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a strike-through line is drawn, or a semi-transparent image is displayed or not displayed so that display of a setting-prohibited scene (photographing prohibited scene) cannot be selected.
[0020]
The user can perform a favorable shooting result by selecting and setting one of three shooting scenes, which are currently settable shooting scenes, portrait, and sports.
[0021]
The example shown in FIG. 5 is an example. As another example, an icon indicating a selectable scene is displayed, or only the currently selected shooting scene display is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 13, and the button is pressed. It is also possible to employ a selection display method in which selectable shooting scene displays are selected by rotation.
[0022]
In the selection display method, the selection of a low possibility is prohibited. However, as described in the embodiment of the present invention, the selection can be made in the order of shooting scenes that are likely to be a good shooting. There is also a method of rearranging the order of display of shooting scenes on the menu screen of the liquid crystal monitor 13.
[0023]
FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts related to the shooting scene selection control according to the embodiment of the present invention. As in the reference example, the user turns on the power and displays on the liquid crystal monitor 13 as shown in FIG. The flow starts when the scene select mode is set to “ON” from the recording menu and the camera enters the shooting standby state (through image display).
[0024]
First, the CPU 2 captures shooting data at the time of shooting (during monitoring) (S11). For example, it is assumed that the shooting situation is luminance: LV9, time: 3 pm. The CPU 2 receives the shooting data, acquires the table data of the scenes shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and calculates the scene score (S12).
[0025]
As the table data for calculating the scene score, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, points are assigned for each shooting scene according to the luminance data (FIG. 9) and time data (FIG. 10). For example, in the case of LV7 in the case of LV7, a scene with a high score is a shooting scene that the scene selection screen seems to be suitable for the situation, and a fireworks or night view mode with a low score is a photography scene that is not suitable for the situation. The Then, based on the sum of the points based on the time data in FIG. 10 and the points in FIG. 9, it is determined that the shooting scene is suitable for the shooting situation in descending order of the points.
[0026]
Therefore, in the scene score calculation step (S12), as shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 2 reads out the score for the luminance data from the table data in FIG. 9 and the score for the time data from the table data in FIG. The total value is calculated and stored for every scene (shooting scenes such as fireworks, night view, blue sky, etc.) (S13). When the calculation of the total score for all the scenes is completed, the CPU 2 performs a scene display rearrangement process for each score, and displays a selection menu on the liquid crystal monitor 13 in the rearranged order (S14).
[0027]
In the case of step (S11), portrait (10 points), distant view (10 points), sport (10 points), blue sky (9 points), sunset (7 points), night view (1 point), fireworks (0 The menu display is set in this order, and the menu display as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 13.
[0028]
In the present embodiment, the luminance data or time data may be acquired at regular intervals, and the order of scene display displayed on the menu may be changed accordingly.
[0029]
Further, in the present embodiment, it is also conceivable that the color data is given a score corresponding to the photographic scene in the same manner as described above, and is used as one of data for rearranging the scene display.
[0030]
As described above, in the present embodiment, in selecting a shooting scene, menus are displayed in order from scenes that are likely to be shot in a favorable situation, so that the user can easily perform operations when selecting a scene. Mistakes can be reduced.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the imaging apparatus having the scene selection function of the present invention, the display of the shooting scene that is unlikely to be shot properly is displayed at the bottom of the scene selection menu. Therefore, selectable shooting scenes are narrowed down, and it becomes easy to search for a scene. Even if there are a large number of shooting scenes as options, the operation of selecting a scene becomes easy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital camera for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart relating to shooting scene selection control of a reference example for explaining the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a display example of a recording menu in the reference example. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a selection menu in the reference example. FIG. FIG. 7 is a flow chart relating to shooting scene selection control according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a scene in shooting scene selection control according to the embodiment of the present invention. Flow chart relating to score calculation [FIG. 9] Explanatory diagram of contents in table data (luminance data) for scene score calculation used in the present embodiment [FIG. Illustration of a menu display example of the LCD monitor in illustration 11 embodiment of the contents of 10] table data for scene score calculation used in the embodiment (time data) [Description of symbols]
1 Shooting lens 2 CPU
7 Data processor 9 Image processor 13 LCD monitor

Claims (5)

In an imaging apparatus having a scene selection function in which shooting parameters are set according to various shooting scenes,
A scene comprising control means for displaying a scene selection menu by referring to information related to shooting, ranking the shooting conditions suitable for shooting, rearranging scene display items in order of good shooting conditions An imaging device having a selection function. 2. An imaging apparatus having a scene selection function according to claim 1, wherein information relating to photographing is set as a luminance value . 2. An imaging system having a scene selection function according to claim 1 , wherein the information relating to imaging is color data obtained by taking an average of R, G, and B values in the entire imaging screen or in a partial area. apparatus. The information on imaging, an imaging apparatus having the scene selection function according to claim 1 Symbol mounting, characterized in that the time data. Information about shooting, a scene selection feature of the mounting according to claim 1 Symbol is characterized in that a combination of a time data as claimed in claim 2 luminance value or claim 3 color data or claim 4, wherein according as claimed Data An imaging apparatus having the same.

Images