JP4181620B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera, and in particular, a digital camera having a plurality of photographing systems each having a plurality of solid-state image pickup devices such as CCDs and independently forming a plurality of photographing systems, and each photographing system having an automatic focusing function. Related to the camera.

  In recent years, many digital cameras have been distributed as image pickup apparatuses having CCD image pickup devices that can be easily photographed. At the time of shooting, a digital camera reads a charge (photoelectric conversion) corresponding to the amount of light with a CCD image sensor for each pixel, converts it into image data, and then uses the shot image as image data on a recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium. It is recorded.

  In the process from shooting to recording, for each shooting frame, the main processes are digital conversion of the shot image, creation of an image for displaying the shot image, and recording processing for recording the shot image. .

  Also, with this type of digital camera, moving image shooting has become possible by using a CCD image sensor or the like. For example, a plurality of lens units are arranged in the optical axis direction, and each lens unit is zoom-driven according to the selected photographing optical system so as to form an optical image on the CCD, thereby capturing a moving image. It has been proposed to do so (see Patent Document 1).

  Furthermore, an image pickup apparatus including a plurality of CCD image pickup devices has also been proposed. For example, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, a plurality of CCDs for monochrome and color use, or a plurality of CCDs having different element sizes are driven. It has been proposed to divide the optical signal from the optical lens and cause each CCD to receive the signal, and to perform signal processing in the control unit. In the technique described in Patent Document 2, the CCD to be photographed is switched in accordance with the surrounding situation, whereby an image according to the surrounding situation can be obtained.

The digital camera described above includes a zoom lever and has a zoom function for enlarging or reducing an image of a subject based on the operation of the zoom lever. There has also been proposed a camera including two photographing systems and two display units that display images obtained by the photographing systems corresponding to the photographing systems.
JP-A-10-262175 JP 11-122536 A

  Further, in the conventional autofocus function, when a lens having a short focal depth such as a zoom lens is used, depending on the reference position and focus position of the lens when performing autofocus, for example, as shown in FIG. In addition, when the lens is moved in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 18 (the lens is moved from the longer focal length) and the contrast at each lens position is calculated, the lens is moved from the direction opposite to the direction of arrow A in FIG. Thus, there is a problem that the distance to move the lens becomes long before the maximum contrast value is detected, and it takes time to search for the focal position.

  In addition, when using a lens with a short focal depth such as a zoom lens, generally a stepping motor that drives the focus lens is driven step by step to specify a rough focus position range (rough search). The stepping motor is driven in detail to perform a focus search for the specified rough focus position range. In this case as well, as described above, the focus search range is wide during the rough search. There is a problem that it takes a long time to search for the focal position.

  Further, in the conventional autofocus function, for example, as shown in FIG. 35, the position of the lens that is in focus when the shooting distance to the subject is a predetermined close distance is set as the initial position, and from this initial position to the subject. When the shooting distance is infinity, autofocus is performed by setting the lens position where the contrast value is the maximum value as the in-focus position while step-driving to the position of the in-focus lens by a predetermined distance L. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 35, when the in-focus position is on the infinity side, it takes time to detect the in-focus position, and conversely, the in-focus state is obtained when the shooting distance to the subject is infinite. When the lens position is set as the initial position, there is a problem that it takes time to detect the in-focus position when the in-focus position is on the close distance side.

  Furthermore, when the camera is provided with two photographing systems and two display units for displaying images obtained by the photographing systems corresponding to the photographing systems, and the angle of view is enlarged or reduced. Can be provided with a zoom lever corresponding to each photographing system.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described facts, and provides a digital camera that has two photographing systems and can make the apparatus simple even if the size of a subject image can be changed. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a first imaging device that images a subject, a first single-focus optical system that forms a subject image on the first imaging device, and a subject. A first imaging system including a first focus adjusting unit that adjusts a focus on the second imaging element, a second imaging element that images the subject, and a focus-variable second that images the subject on the second imaging element. A second imaging system including a second variable focus optical system and a second focus adjusting unit that adjusts a focal point with respect to the subject, and an imaging system that is an object for imaging the subject is the first imaging system or the first imaging system. A switching means for switching to the second imaging system, a single angle-of-view changing means for instructing a change in the angle of view, and the switching means switches to the first imaging system, and an image is changed by the angle-of-view changing means. When a change in angle is instructed, it is obtained by the first imaging system. The image data is subjected to image processing so that the angle of view changes in response to an instruction from the angle of view changing means, and is switched to the second imaging system by the switching means, and the angle of view is changed by the angle of view changing means. Control means for adjusting the second variable focus optical system via the second focus adjustment means so that the angle of view changes in response to an instruction from the angle of view change means, It has.

  That is, the digital camera according to the present invention includes a first photographing system and a second photographing system. The first imaging system includes a first imaging device that images a subject, a first single-focus optical system that forms a subject image on the first imaging device, and a first focus that adjusts the focus on the subject. Adjusting means.

  The second imaging system includes a second imaging element that images the subject, a second variable-focus optical system that changes the focus on the second imaging element, and a second that adjusts the focus on the subject. Focusing means.

  The switching means switches a photographing system to be a subject for photographing the subject to the first photographing system or the second photographing system. The angle-of-view change instructing means is for instructing a change in the angle of view, and the present invention includes a single angle-of-view changing means.

  The control means is switched to the first photographing system by the switching means, and when the change of the angle of view is instructed by the angle of view changing means, the image data obtained by the first photographing system is Image processing is performed so that the angle of view changes in response to an instruction from the angle of view changing means.

  The control means is switched to the second photographing system by the switching means, and when the change of the angle of view is instructed by the angle of view change means, the angle of view corresponds to the instruction by the angle of view change means. The second variable focus optical system is adjusted via the second focus adjusting means so that the angle changes.

  As described above, since the change in the angle of view of the first imaging system and the second imaging system can be instructed by a single angle-of-view change instruction unit, the apparatus can be configured simply.

  By the way, the control means adjusts the second variable focus optical system when the change of the angle of view is instructed by the angle of view changing means when the change of the angle of view is instructed by the switching means. When the change of the angle of view is instructed by the angle of view changing means beyond the adjustable range of the second focus variable optical system via the focus adjustment means, the angle of view is adjusted in the adjustment of the second focus variable optical system. Can not change.

  Therefore, in the invention of claim 2, the control means is instructed to change the angle of view by the angle-of-view changing means beyond the adjustable range of the second focus variable optical system via the second focus adjusting means. In this case, the image data obtained by the second photographing system is subjected to image processing so that the angle of view changes in response to an instruction from the angle of view changing means. Therefore, the angle of view can be changed even when the change of the angle of view is instructed by the angle of view changing means beyond the adjustable range of the second variable focus optical system via the second focus adjusting means. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is further provided display means for displaying an image, and the control means is obtained by each of the first photographing system and the second photographing system regardless of the switching state by the switching means. The display means is controlled so that an image is displayed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes display means for displaying an image, and the control means only switches the image obtained by the first photographing system when the switching means switches to the first photographing system. Is displayed, and the display means is controlled so that images obtained by the first photographing system and the second photographing system are displayed when the switching means switches to the second photographing system. To do.

In the invention of claim 5, the optical system of the second imaging system is set to have a focal depth shorter than that of the optical system of the first imaging system, and the control unit is configured to perform the second imaging by the switching unit. If there Erare switched into the system, after controlling the focus adjusting means of the first imaging system to perform focusing by the first focusing means, the first based on the focus adjustment result by said focus adjusting means The focus adjustment means of each of the first imaging system and the second imaging system is controlled so as to perform focus adjustment by the focus adjustment means of the second imaging system.

  That is, when shooting with the second shooting system, the first focus adjustment unit is controlled by the control unit so that the focus adjustment by the first focus adjustment unit is performed, and a rough focal length is specified. The After that, based on the focus adjustment result by the first focus adjustment unit, for example, the focus adjustment by the second focus adjustment unit is performed in order to search for the focal position within the specified range of the approximate focal length. In this way, the second focus adjusting means is controlled. That is, after the rough focus position is specified by the first imaging system having a narrow focal length range (long focal depth), the focus adjustment by the second imaging system is performed based on the specified rough focus position. Therefore, the focal position can be searched for a small range as compared with the case where the focal length is specified only by the second imaging system having a wide focal distance range (short focal depth). The time required can be shortened.

  A zoom lens can be used as the second variable focus optical system. Since the focal depth of the zoom lens is short, it takes time to adjust the focus. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the focus adjustment time by the second photographing system by specifying the rough focus position by the first photographing system having a focal depth longer than that of the zoom lens.

  In addition, a single focus lens can be used as the first single focus optical system. Since the single focus lens has a long depth of focus, the focus search can be performed in a short time when a rough focus position is specified by using the single focus lens for the first optical system.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the change in the angle of view of the first imaging system and the second imaging system can be instructed by a single angle-of-view change instruction unit, the apparatus can be configured simply. It has the effect.

  (First embodiment)

  Hereinafter, an example of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the main body 12 of the digital camera 10 is substantially box-shaped, and a protrusion (gripping portion) for facilitating gripping of the main body 12 is formed on the left side when viewed from the front. It is made the shape. A lens barrel 15 to which a lens 14 is attached is provided in the center of the front side of the main body 12, and a strobe 18 for emitting auxiliary light in the case of shooting at low illuminance is provided above the lens 14 of the main body 12. An optical finder 16 is attached for the user to visually check the shooting range and the like.

  Further, a strobe light receiving window 38 for guiding the strobe light to a strobe light receiving sensor for detecting the amount of strobe light reflected and returned by the subject when the strobe light is emitted, and a built-in AE sensor are located near the strobe 18. An AE light receiving window 40 is provided for guiding light to the light source.

  On the upper surface of the main body 12, a power switch 20 is provided on the right side when viewed from the front, and a release switch 22 is provided on the left side (position corresponding to the gripping portion). A slot 24 into which a memory card (not shown) can be loaded is provided.

  On the right side of the digital camera 10, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) for sending image data stored in a built-in memory built in the digital camera 10 or a memory card loaded in the slot 24 to the outside. ) A USB terminal 42 to which a cable is connected and a mobile phone terminal 44 that is used when the image data stored in the built-in memory or the memory card is transmitted to the outside using a mobile phone. Is provided.

  Further, an AC adapter connection port 28 for connecting an AC adapter for obtaining power from an AC power source is provided below the mobile phone terminal 44 so that AC power can be supplied to the digital camera 10. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, a color display 26 made of transmissive liquid crystal (or transflective liquid crystal may be used) is provided on the back surface of the main body 12, and the display 26 includes a fluorescent tube, an LED, and the like. It is set as the structure provided with the backlight comprised by these. The display 26 also has the function of the optical viewfinder 16.

  On the rear side of the main body 12, a selection (SELECT) switch 34, a menu (MENU) switch 30, an execution / screen change (EX / VIEW CHG) switch 32, and a cancel (CANCEL) switch 36 are provided on the right side. Yes. The selection switch 34 is a switch for selecting a mode such as a menu screen displayed by pressing the menu switch 30, and the execution is performed by the execution / screen switching switch 32. The cancel switch 36 is a switch for canceling various modes.

  Further, a shooting mode switching switch 82 and a tele / wide switching switch 25 for switching shooting modes are provided on the rear surface of the main body 12, and a still image for shooting a still image by operating the shooting mode switching switch 82. Switching between the shooting mode and the movie shooting mode for shooting a movie, and operating the tele / wide switch 25, the tele mode (tele) mode and the wide angle (wide) mode are switched. Yes. The tele / wide switch 25 corresponds to the switching means of the present invention.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, the photographing system of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment includes two imaging elements 50A and 50B having different sizes, and the subject image incident from the lens 14 is as follows. The images are separated by the half mirror 86 as the separating means and imaged on the two imaging elements 50A and 50B, respectively. The larger image sensor 50A is for a wide angle (wide), and the smaller image sensor 50B is for a telephoto (tele).

  The two image sensors 50A and 50B, the lens 14, and the half mirror 86 correspond to an imaging system including the main imaging system and the sub-imaging system of the present invention.

  Further, the subject images photographed by the respective image sensors 50A and 50B are displayed on the screen of the display 26 so that they can be confirmed, for example, as shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 3 shows an example in which a captured image captured by the smaller image sensor 50B is displayed at the center of the captured image captured by the larger image sensor 50A. In this case, the captured image captured by the smaller image sensor 50B may be combined with the captured image captured by the larger image sensor 50A, or the smaller image may be captured. You may make it display a frame etc. as image information in the position on the picked-up image image | photographed with the larger image pick-up element 50A corresponding to the picked-up image image | photographed with the element 50B.

  FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the electrical system of the digital camera 10.

  Two image pickup devices 50A and 50B composed of area CCD sensors or the like are arranged at a position corresponding to the focal position of the lens 14 inside the main body 12, and as described above, the lens 14 reflects the subject. Is incident on the light receiving surfaces of the image sensors 50A and 50B, respectively.

  The image sensors 50A and 50B output analog signals representing the amounts of received light in each of a large number of photoelectric conversion cells arranged in a matrix on the light receiving surface as image signals. The image sensors 50 </ b> A and 50 </ b> B are each driven at a timing synchronized with the timing signal generated by the timing signal generator 52 connected to the drive circuit 46 and outputs an image signal.

  A diaphragm 48 is disposed between the lens 14 and the image sensors 50A and 50B. The diaphragm 48 may be configured as a single diaphragm that can be continuously changed, or may be configured to switch a plurality of diaphragms having different diaphragm amounts.

  The timing signal generator 52 is further connected to a strobe control circuit 54 that controls the light emission of the strobe 18. When the strobe 18 is detected to have low illuminance or when the user instructs light emission. Light emission is controlled at a timing synchronized with the timing signal generated by the timing signal generator 52.

  A sampling unit 56, an A / D converter 58, a signal processing unit 60, a memory 62, and a compression / decompression unit 64 are connected in order to the signal output terminal of the image sensor 50, and each is connected to a system bus 68. The system control unit 70 connected to the system bus 68 controls the entire system.

  The sampling unit 56 samples the image signal output from the image sensor 50 at a timing synchronized with the timing signal generated by the timing signal generation unit 52, amplifies it, and outputs it to the A / D converter 58. The sampling unit 56 includes a CDS (Correlated Double Sampling: hereinafter referred to as CDS) unit (not shown). The CDS unit uses, for example, a CCD type imaging device, and basically holds a clamp circuit that clamps various noises generated by the device with a timing signal from the timing signal generation unit, and an analog voltage signal with the timing signal. It has a sample hold circuit. The CDS unit removes the noise component and sends the image signal to the A / D converter 58 as an analog output signal. The image signal output from the sampling unit 56 is converted into digital image data by the A / D converter 58 and input to the signal processing unit 60. The signal processing unit 60 performs various processes such as color correction, γ correction, and Y / C conversion on the input image data. The image data output from the signal processing unit 60 is temporarily stored in a memory 62 composed of a RAM or the like. Then, after being compressed by the compression / decompression unit 64, it is stored in the internal memory 84 or the memory card 80 loaded in the slot 24.

  Here, although omitted in FIG. 4, a sampling unit, an A / D converter, and a signal processing unit are connected to the signal output end of the image sensor 50B in the same manner as the output end of the image sensor 50A. The signal processing described above is performed, and is also temporarily stored in the memory 62, compressed by the compression / expansion unit 64, and then stored in the built-in memory 84 or the memory card 80 loaded in the slot 24. .

  In addition, a display driver 27 that drives the display 26 is also connected to the system bus 68 so that images can be displayed based on image data obtained by photographing, and various display modes are displayed by the display driver 27. The display is controlled as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a mode (in this case, a captured image captured by the wide imaging device 50 </ b> A is displayed on the entire surface, and a captured image captured by the tele imaging device 50 </ b> B is displayed in a substantially central portion. May be configured to synthesize the captured images, or display a frame or the like at a position corresponding to the tele-photographed image on the wide-captured image), as shown in FIG. As described above, it is also possible to display an image captured by one image sensor over the entire surface and display an image captured by the other image sensor smaller in the corner. FIG. 5 shows an example in which an image captured by the telescopic image sensor 50B is displayed on the entire surface, and an image captured by the wide image sensor 50A is displayed in a small corner.

  Further, the system bus 68 includes the above-described USB terminal 42, mobile phone terminal 44, various operation switches including the release switch 22 and the tele / wide switch 25 (menu switch 30, execution / screen switch 32, selection switch). 34, cancel switch 36, photographing mode changeover switch 82, etc.) 74 are connected, and control according to the operation of various operation switches 74 is performed. Yes.

  That is, when the image data is instructed to be stored in the internal memory 84 or the memory card loaded in the slot 24 by operating the release switch 22 or the like, the system control unit 70 stores the image temporarily stored in the memory 62. Data is read out and transferred to the compression / decompression unit 64. As a result, the image data is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 64 and then stored in the built-in memory 84 or the memory card 80. The image data may be stored in the built-in memory 84 or the memory card 80 without being compressed depending on the shooting mode.

  When an instruction to reproduce (display) an image represented by image data stored in the internal memory 84 or the memory card 80 loaded in the slot 24 is given, the memory card loaded in the internal memory 84 or the slot 24. Image data is read from 80, and the read image data is decompressed (decompressed) by the compression / decompression unit 64 and then temporarily stored in the memory 62. Then, image display (reproduction) is performed on the display 26 using the image data temporarily stored in the memory 62.

  Note that images taken by the image pickup devices 50A and 50B are selectively recorded in the built-in memory 84 or the memory card 80 in accordance with the operation of the tele / wide switch 25.

  Next, as an operation of the digital camera 10 configured as described above, processing during still image shooting will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. Note that still image shooting is started by switching the shooting mode switch 82 to the still image shooting mode.

  In step 100, it is determined whether or not the tele mode. This determination is made by determining whether or not the tele / wide switch 25 is switched to tele photography.

  If the determination in step 100 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 102, where the image represented by the image data from the two image sensors 50A and 50B is displayed on the display 26, and the image data from the tele image sensor 50B. Highlight the image represented by. For example, in FIG. 3, when the display 26 is driven by the display driver 27, an image represented by the image data from the wide imaging device 50A is displayed, and an image represented by the image data from the tele imaging device 50B is displayed at substantially the center thereof. Is displayed to emphasize the frame portion of the image represented by the image data from the telescopic image sensor 50B, or the image represented by the image data from the wide image sensor 50A is shaded and displayed. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the image represented by the image data from the telescopic image sensor 50B is displayed on the entire screen of the display 26, and the image represented by the image data from the wide image sensor 50A is displayed in a small corner. . In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, when the captured image of the tele-imaging device 50B is displayed in the approximate center of the captured image of the wide-image sensor 50A, the captured image itself of the tele-imaging device 50B is not displayed. Only the image information such as a frame may be displayed at a position corresponding to the captured image of the tele imaging device 50B on the captured image of the wide imaging device 50A.

  That is, the recorded image (the image captured by one image sensor) and the image not recorded (the image captured by the other image sensor) are displayed together, so that the recorded image can be confirmed and recorded. You can also check the image of the person who is not.

  In step 104, it is determined whether or not the release switch 22 is turned on. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 100 and the above processing is repeated.

  If the determination in step 104 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 106 to record the image data from the tele imaging device 50B. That is, the image data from the tele imaging device 50 </ b> B is temporarily stored in the memory 62. Then, the system control unit 70 reads out the image data temporarily stored in the memory 62 and transfers it to the compression / decompression unit 64. As a result, the image data is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 64 and then stored in the built-in memory 84 or the memory card 80.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 100 is negative, that is, if the tele / wide selector switch 25 is switched to the wide mode, the routine proceeds to step 108.

  In step 108, the image represented by the image data from the two image sensors 50A and 50B is displayed on the display 26, and the image represented by the image data from the wide image sensor 50A is highlighted. For example, in FIG. 3, when the display 26 is driven by the display driver 27, an image represented by the image data from the wide imaging device 50A is displayed, and an image represented by the image data from the tele imaging device 50B is displayed at substantially the center thereof. Is displayed so that the frame portion of the image represented by the image data from the wide imaging device 50A is emphasized, or the frame corresponding to the image represented by the image data from the tele imaging device 50B is difficult to visually recognize ( Frame of dotted lines or thin lines). Or, contrary to FIG. 5, the image represented by the image data from the wide imaging device 50A is displayed on the entire screen of the display 26, and the image represented by the image data from the tele imaging device 50B is displayed in a small corner. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, when the captured image of the tele-imaging device 50B is displayed in the approximate center of the captured image of the wide-image sensor 50A, the captured image itself of the tele-imaging device 50B is not displayed. Only the image information such as the frame is displayed at the position corresponding to the captured image of the tele imaging device 50B on the captured image of the wide imaging device 50A, and the display of the frame is inconspicuous (for example, a dotted line or a thin line) You may make it.

  That is, the recorded image (the image captured by one image sensor) and the image not recorded (the image captured by the other image sensor) are displayed together, so that the recorded image can be confirmed and recorded. You can also check the image of the person who is not.

  In step 110, it is determined whether or not the release switch 22 is turned on. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 100 and the above processing is repeated.

  If the determination in step 110 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 112 to record the image data from the wide imaging element 50A. That is, the image data from the wide imaging element 50 </ b> A is temporarily stored in the memory 62. Then, the system control unit 70 reads out the image data temporarily stored in the memory 62 and transfers it to the compression / decompression unit 64. As a result, the image data is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 64 and then stored in the built-in memory 84 or the memory card 80.

  When the image data is recorded in step 108 or step 112, the process proceeds to step 114, and it is determined whether or not the photographing is finished. The determination is made by determining whether the power switch 20 is turned off, whether the operation switch 74 is operated and the reproduction mode is instructed, and if the determination is negative, Returning to 100, the above-described processing is repeated, and when the determination in step 114 is affirmative, the photographing processing is terminated.

  As described above, in the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment, the image represented by the image data from the tele imaging device 50B and the image represented by the image data from the wide imaging device 50A are simultaneously displayed on the display 26. Therefore, by photographing by operating the tele / wide switch 25 according to the surrounding situation, it is possible to take a picture while capturing the surrounding situation. That is, the main image sensor is switched by switching the tele / wide switch 35, and a photographed image is recorded by the main image sensor. At this time, an image sensor other than the main image sensor is used. Since the photographed image is also displayed on the display 26, it is possible to photograph while capturing the surrounding situation. Therefore, it is possible to prevent missing a photo opportunity.

  In FIG. 6, the shooting processing at the time of still image shooting has been described. Similarly, at the time of moving image shooting, the image represented by the image data from the tele imaging device 50B and the image data from the wide imaging device 50A are represented. Images are displayed on the display 26 simultaneously.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, images taken by the two image pickup devices 50A and 50B are displayed at the time of shooting. However, as shown in FIG. 7, it is configured by a display device 92 such as a liquid crystal and a lens 94. The electronic viewfinder 90 may display an image that is displayed on the display 26 described above.

  Subsequently, a digital camera of a first modification of the digital camera 10 according to the above embodiment will be described. In the above-described embodiment, incident images are formed on the two imaging devices 50A and 50B by separating the incident light from the two photographing systems and the one optical system (lens 14) by the half mirror 86. In the first modified example, as shown in FIG. 8, a telephoto lens 14B is provided with a telephoto lens and a wide-angle lens 14A is provided with a wide-angle lens. The elements 51A and 51B are provided, and the two photographing systems are configured independently. The two image sensors 51A and 51B may be the same size or different sizes. The tele lens 14B may be a zoom lens (focal length variable lens).

  As described above, even if the two photographing systems are configured independently of each other, the same effect as that of the above embodiment can be obtained.

  Furthermore, a digital camera of a second modification of the digital camera 10 according to the above embodiment will be described. In the above-described embodiment, since the images captured by the two imaging elements 50A and 50B are displayed on one display 26, it is necessary to synthesize the display images, and at the part where the two images overlap, I cannot see the image. Therefore, in the second modified example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, two large and small displays 26A and 26B are provided to display each. In this way, by displaying the captured images by the two image sensors on the two displays 26A and 26B, it is possible to omit processing such as synthesis of the display images and to see all the images of both. It becomes like this.

  At this time, the image to be displayed on the large and small displays 26A and 26B may be switched according to the tele / wide switch 25, that is, according to the recorded image. That is, instead of the display driver 27 and the display 26 of FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of (two in FIG. 11) displays 26A and 26B are provided, and corresponding display drivers 27A and 27B are provided. Then, the image displayed by the switching means 98 connected to the system bus 68 (the captured image by the tele imaging device 50B and the captured image by the wide imaging device 50A) is switched. For example, when a captured image of the tele imaging device 50B is recorded (when switched to the tele mode by the tele / wide switching switch 25), as shown in FIG. 10, the tele imaging device is displayed on the larger display 26A. The switching unit 98 performs switching control so that the captured image of 50B is displayed and the captured image of the wide imaging element 50A is displayed on the smaller display 26B. In addition, when recording a captured image of the wide imaging element 50A (when switched to the wide mode by the tele / wide switch 25), the captured image of the wide imaging element 50A is conversely displayed on the larger display 26A. The switching unit 98 performs switching control so that the captured image of the tele imaging device 50B is displayed on the smaller display 26B. Since other configurations are the same as those in the above embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  By providing the two large and small displays 26A and 26B in this way, the recorded image can be confirmed by the photographing system that is not supplementally recorded, as well as the recorded image, as in the above-described embodiment. it can.

  When a plurality of displays are provided as described above, for example, information such as menu display other than the photographed image may be displayed on the smaller display 26B.

  Further, a combination of the first modification and the second modification may be used as a digital camera including two independent photographing systems and two displays 26A and 26B.

  Next, a digital camera of a third modification of the digital camera 10 according to the above embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, the entire image of the image captured by the telescopic image sensor 50B and the image captured by the wide image sensor 50A is displayed on one display 26, but the digital image of the third modification example is provided. The camera displays an image captured by the telescopic image sensor 50B, and displays only a predetermined area of the image captured by the wide image sensor 50B. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, an image captured by the telescopic image sensor 50B is displayed in the upper area of the display 26, and only a predetermined area 96 of the image captured by the wide image sensor 50A is cut out and displayed below the display 26. You may make it display. Such display switching can be realized, for example, by switching the display by operating the menu switch 30, the selection switch 34, the execution / screen switching switch 32, the cancel switch 36, etc. of the various operation switches 74. Yes, display control can be performed by the display driver 27.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when shooting a horse race or the like, the image taken by the wide imaging device 50A only needs to display only the belt-shaped predetermined area 96 on the display 26, so that only the predetermined area 96 is displayed. By designating by operating the various operation switches 74 and instructing the predetermined area 96 to be displayed on the lower side of the screen, it is possible to grasp substantially the entire image captured by the wide imaging element 50A. is there. In addition, by displaying only the predetermined area 96 of the captured image by the wide imaging element 50A as described above, necessary information can be effectively displayed in a small display area.

  In the above embodiment, the two photographing systems are provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, three or four photographing systems are provided so that the photographed image is displayed on the display 26 simultaneously. At this time, the display 26 may be provided with a number of display screens corresponding to the photographing system.

  (Second Embodiment)

  Next, an example of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera 210 has two independent photographing systems (first photographing system 212A and second photographing system 212B), and the light receiving surfaces of the CCDs 218A and 218B via the photographing optical systems 214A and 214B, respectively. A subject image is formed on the screen.

  The CCD 218A is the first imaging element of the present invention, the CCD 218B is the second imaging element of the present invention, the imaging optical system 214A is the first optical system of the present invention, and the imaging optical system 214B is the second optical element of the present invention. It corresponds to each system.

  Each of the two imaging systems includes a first imaging system 212A used during normal mode imaging and a second imaging system 212B used during telephoto mode imaging.

  Each of the photographic optical systems 214A and 214B includes photographic lenses 216A and 216B and an aperture 217. The photographic lens 216A is a single focal lens, and the photographic lens 216B is a zoom lens (focal length variable lens). ).

  The subject images formed on the light receiving surfaces of the CCDs 218A and 218B via the respective photographing optical systems 214A and 214B are converted into signal charges corresponding to the amount of incident light by each sensor. The signal charges accumulated in this way are read by CCD drive pulses applied from the CCD drive circuits 220A and 220B, and are sequentially output from the CCDs 218A and 218B as voltage signals (analog image signals) corresponding to the signal charges.

  The CCDs 218A and 218B are provided with a shutter drain via a shutter gate, and the accumulated signal charge can be swept out to the shutter drain by driving the shutter gate with a shutter gate pulse. That is, the CCD 218 has a so-called electronic shutter function that controls the accumulation time (shutter speed) of charges accumulated in each sensor by the shutter gate pulse.

  The signals read from the respective CCDs 218A and 218B are subjected to correlated double sampling (CDS) processing in the CDS circuits 222A and 222B, and are color-separated into R, G, and B color signals, and the signal levels of the respective color signals. Adjustment (pre-white balance processing) is performed.

  The image signal that has undergone the predetermined analog signal processing is added to A / D converters 224A and 224B, converted into R, G, and B digital signals by the A / D converters 224A and 224B, and then the memory 226A. 226B. The memories 226A and 226B may be a single memory, or may be separate memories for each photographing system.

  A timing signal generation circuit (TG) 228 provides appropriate timing signals to the CCD drive circuits 220A and 220B, the CDS circuits 222A and 222B, and the A / D converters 224A and 224B in accordance with commands from the CPU 230. Each circuit is driven in synchronism with a timing signal applied from a timing signal generation circuit 228.

  The CPU 230 is a control unit (control means) that performs overall control of each circuit of the digital camera 210, and a gain adjustment circuit 234, a gamma correction circuit 236, and a luminance / color difference signal processing circuit (referred to as a YC processing circuit) via the bus 232. 238, a compression / decompression circuit 240, a card interface 244 of the memory card 242, a display driver 248 for driving the display unit 246, and the like.

  The CPU 230 controls the corresponding circuit block based on the input signal from the operation unit 250, controls the zooming operation of the photographing lens 216B, the automatic focus adjustment (AF) operation of the photographing lenses 216A and 216B, and the automatic exposure adjustment (AE). Control.

  The operation unit 250 includes a release button that gives an instruction to start image recording, a camera mode selection unit, a zoom operation unit, and other various input units. These input means have various forms such as switch buttons, dials, and slide-type knobs. There is also an aspect in which a setting menu or a selection item is displayed on the screen of the touch panel or the liquid crystal monitor display unit, and a desired item is selected with a cursor. . For example, the normal mode by the first imaging system and the telephoto mode by the second imaging system can be selected by operating the operation unit 250. The operation unit 250 may be disposed in the camera body, or may be configured as a remote control transmitter separated from the camera body.

  The CPU 230 performs various calculations such as a focus evaluation calculation and an AE calculation based on the image signals output from the CCDs 218A and 218B. Based on the calculation, the CPU 230 controls the driving circuits 252A and 252B of the photographing lenses 216A and 216B and the diaphragm 217. Control. That is, by driving the motors 254A and 254B, the focus lens is moved to the in-focus position, and the diaphragm 217 is set to an appropriate diaphragm value. The motors 254A and 254B are stepping motors, and the focus lens position is controlled by controlling the number of steps. The motors 254A and 254B are not limited to stepping motors, and for example, DC motors can be used.

  The AF control employs a contrast AF method in which the focus lens is moved so that the high frequency component of the G signal is maximized. That is, the focus lens is moved by driving the motors 254A and 254B via the drive circuits 252A and 252B, and the focus lens is positioned at a position where the contrast value is maximized. In the AE control, the subject luminance (shooting EV) is obtained based on the integrated value obtained by integrating the R, G, and B signals of one frame, the aperture value and the shutter speed are determined based on the taken EV, and the drive circuit 252A, The diaphragm 217 is driven via 252B, and the charge accumulation time of the CCDs 218A and 218B is controlled by the electronic shutter so that the determined shutter speed is obtained. Therefore, only by directing the taking lenses 216A and 216B of the digital camera 210 to the subject, the optimum exposure adjustment is performed and the focusing is automatically performed.

  At the time of shooting recording, the AF operation described above is performed when the release button is “half-pressed”, and the photometry operation is repeated a plurality of times to obtain an accurate shooting EV. Based on this shooting EV, the aperture value and shutter speed at the time of shooting are taken. Is finally determined. Then, when the release button is “fully pressed”, the diaphragm 217 is driven so as to achieve the finally determined diaphragm value, and the charge accumulation time is controlled by the electronic shutter so as to achieve the determined shutter speed. In addition to a method of controlling AE based on image signals acquired from the CCDs 218A and 218B, a well-known photometric sensor or the like may be used.

  Further, the digital camera 210 has a strobe light emitting device 55 and a light receiving element 256 for dimming, and automatically controls the strobe light emitting device 55 when the brightness is low according to the operation of the strobe mode setting button included in the operation unit 250. Are set to “low-brightness automatic light-emission mode”, “forced light-emission mode” for causing the flash light-emitting device 55 to emit light regardless of subject brightness, “light-emission prohibition mode” for prohibiting the light emission of the strobe light-emitting device 55, or the like.

  The CPU 230 controls charging of the main capacitor of the strobe light emitting device 55 and discharge (light emission) timing to the light emitting tube (for example, a xenon tube) according to the strobe mode selected by the user, and from the light receiving element 256. The light emission stop is controlled based on the measurement result. The light receiving element 256 receives the reflected light from the subject illuminated by the light emission of the strobe and converts it into an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of light received. The signal of the light receiving element 256 is integrated by an integration circuit (not shown), and the light emission of the strobe light emitting device 55 is stopped when the integrated light receiving amount reaches a predetermined appropriate light receiving amount.

  The data output from the A / D converters 224A and 224B is stored in the memories 226A and 226B and is added to the integrating circuits 260A and 260B. The integration circuits 260A and 260B divide the shooting screen into a plurality of blocks (for example, 64 blocks of 8 × 8), and perform integration calculation of the received G signal for each block. Note that the luminance signal (Y signal) may be generated from the R, G, and B data, and the luminance signal may be integrated. Further, the integrating circuits 260A and 260B can be shared by the AF arithmetic circuit and the AE arithmetic circuit. Information on the integrated values (calculation results) obtained by the integrating circuits 260A and 260B is input to the CPU 260.

  The CPU 230 calculates an evaluation value E of the photographing screen based on information received from the integrating circuits 260A and 260B, and determines a gain value (amplification factor) in the gain adjustment circuit 234 using the obtained evaluation value E. The CPU 230 controls the gain amount in the gain adjustment circuit 234 according to the determined gain value.

  The R, G, B image data stored in the memories 226A, 226B are sent to the gain adjustment circuit 234, where they are amplified. The amplified image data is subjected to gamma correction processing in the gamma correction circuit 236 and then sent to the YC processing circuit 238, from the RGB data to a luminance signal (Y signal) and a color difference signal (Cr, Cb signal). Converted.

  The luminance / color difference signal (abbreviated as YC signal) generated in the YC processing circuit 238 is written back to the memories 226A and 226B. The YC signals stored in the memories 226A and 226B are supplied to the display driver 248, converted into a predetermined signal (for example, an NTSC color composite video signal), and output to the display unit 246. As the display unit 246, a liquid crystal display or other display device capable of color display is used. The display unit 246 may be a YC signal input compatible type or an RGB signal input type, and a driver corresponding to the display device is applied.

  Image data is periodically rewritten by image signals output from the CCDs 218A and 218B, and a video signal generated from the image data is supplied to the display unit 246, so that images captured by the CCDs 218A and 218B are moving images in real time. The image is displayed on the display unit 246 as a (live image) or as a substantially continuous image although not in real time.

  The display unit 246 can be used as an electronic viewfinder, and the photographer can check the shooting angle of view with a display image on the display unit 246 or an electronic viewfinder (not shown). In response to a predetermined recording instruction (shooting start instruction) operation such as pressing the release button, the recording image data is started to be captured.

  When the photographer inputs a shooting / recording instruction from the operation unit 250, the CPU 230 sends a command to the compression / expansion circuit 240 as necessary, whereby the compression / expansion circuit 240 converts the YC data in the memories 226A and 226B to JPEG or other predetermined data. Compress according to the format. The compressed image data is recorded on the memory card 242 via the card interface 244.

  When the mode for recording uncompressed image data (non-compression mode) is selected, the image data is recorded in the memory card 242 without being compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 240. The

  The digital camera 210 according to the present embodiment uses a memory card 242 as means for storing image data. Specifically, a recording medium such as smart media is applied. The form of the recording medium is not limited to the above, and various forms such as a PC card, a micro drive, a multimedia card (MMC), a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a memory stick, and the like can be used. A signal processing means and an interface corresponding to the above are applied.

  In the reproduction mode, the image data read from the memory card 242 is decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 240 and output to the display unit 246 via the driver 248.

  Next, AF control in the digital camera 210 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As described above, the AF control adopts the contrast AF method, and when the release button is in the “half-pressed” state, the focus lens is moved by driving the motors 254A and 254B via the drive circuits 252A and 252B. Position the focus lens at the position where the contrast is maximized.

  In the calculation of the contrast value Ct, the shooting screen is divided into 8 × 8 blocks in the integrating circuits 260A and 260B, and each block Bi (i = 0, 1, 2,...) Is divided by the CPU 230 based on the information from the integrating circuits 260A and 260B. -Every 63), the integrated value Si of the G (green) signal in the image signal is calculated. Here, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a weighting factor Wi (i = 0, 1, 2,..., 63) is determined for each block, and the weighting factor Wi is relatively large in the center of the screen. Set the value to a smaller value as you move away from the center. Since the main subject is often placed near the center of the screen, setting the weighting coefficient distribution as shown in FIG. 15 makes it possible to perform an evaluation that sufficiently reflects the state of the subject at the center of the screen. It becomes possible.

  When the calculation of the integrated value Si for each block is completed, the evaluation value E is calculated according to the following equation (1) using the weight coefficient Wi.

  That is, the evaluation value E is obtained by adding the multiplication value (Si × Wi) of the integrated value Si and the weighting factor Wi for each block Bi for all the blocks i = 0 to 63, and dividing the addition by the sum of the weighting factors Wi. (Calculating a weighted average).

  Then, the average value and the maximum value of the brightness of the captured image are calculated. The value of the tendency of the contrast of the captured image (hereinafter referred to as the contrast value Ct) corresponds to the variation rate with respect to the brightness of the captured image. In the present embodiment, the ratio between the maximum brightness value included in the captured image and the average brightness value of the captured image shown in the following equation (2) is adopted as the contrast value.

  Ct = Cave / Cmax (2)

  However, Cmax represents the maximum brightness value included in the captured image, and Cave represents the average brightness value of the captured image.

  Note that instead of the average value of brightness, a minimum value of brightness or an average level obtained by a predetermined function or a default value indicating low level brightness may be used. In the present embodiment, the contrast value Ct is calculated using the integrated value Si of the G (green) signal in the image signal for the block i = 0 to 63. In this case, since the main image (image of the main subject) is often distributed near the center of the captured image, the maximum value and the average value of the brightness can be obtained for the block at the center of the captured image. preferable.

  The CDS circuit 222A, A / D 224A, memory 226A, integration circuit 260A, timing signal generation circuit 228, CCD drive circuit 220A, drive circuit 252A, and motor 254A correspond to the first focus adjustment means of the present invention. The CDS circuit 222B, A / D 224B, memory 226B, integration circuit 260B, timing signal generation circuit 228, CCD drive circuit 220B, drive circuit 252B, and motor 254B correspond to the second focus adjustment means of the present invention.

  Next, AF control performed using the contrast value Ct calculated as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step 300, it is determined whether or not the release button is half-pressed. If the determination is negative, the process returns as it is and waits until the determination is negative and affirmative. If the determination is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 302.

  In step 302, it is determined whether or not the current shooting mode is the telephoto mode. The determination is made by determining whether or not the telephoto mode is selected by the operation unit 250. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 304.

  In step 304, AF rough search by the first imaging system is performed. That is, the motor 254A of the first imaging system 212A is step-driven to move the focus lens, and the contrast value Ct at each position of the focus lens is calculated.

  Based on the calculated contrast value Ct at each position of the focus lens in the first imaging system 212A, the focal length that is the maximum value of the contrast value is specified, and a predetermined range including the focal length is specified. The predetermined range is a range to be searched in the subsequent detailed search, and the size of the predetermined range is set according to the zoom lens magnification of the second imaging system 212B.

  Next, in step 306, the second imaging system motor 254B is step-driven to move the focus lens of the second imaging system so that the search start position of the predetermined range specified by the AF rough search is reached. .

  Subsequently, in step 308, an AF detailed search by the second imaging system is performed. That is, the motor 254B of the second imaging system is step-driven from the focus lens position moved in step 306 to move the focus lens, and the contrast value Ct at each position of the focus lens is calculated as in the AF rough search. Then, the focus lens position at which the calculated contrast value Ct is the maximum value is set as the focus position, and the focus adjustment is performed by moving the focus lens of the second photographing system to the position. Note that the AF detailed search performs only the focal length range determined by the first imaging system 212A.

  That is, in the digital camera 210 according to the present embodiment, when shooting with the second shooting system 212B in which the depth of focus is set shorter than that of the first imaging system 212A, AF rough search by the first shooting system 212A is performed. By performing an AF detailed search on the determined focal position range in the second imaging system 212B in which the focal depth is set shorter than that of the first imaging system 212A. Determine the focal position. In general, in AF control of a zoom lens or the like with a short focal depth, a motor is driven step by step and an AF rough search is performed. Then, an AF detailed search is performed. The amount of movement increases and takes time. However, in the present embodiment, as described above, the AF rough search is performed by the first imaging system 212A having a longer depth of focus (using a single focus lens) than the second imaging system 212B in which the depth of focus is set to be short. As a result, the amount of movement of the focus lens that moves during AF rough search can be reduced compared to the above case. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the focal time search time when photographing with the second photographing system 212B having a short focal depth.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 302 is negative, that is, if the normal mode is selected by the operation unit 250, the process proceeds to step 310, and an AF search by the first imaging system is performed. That is, the motor 254A of the first photographing system is step-driven to move the focus lens, the contrast value Ct at each position of the focus lens is calculated, and the calculated contrast at each position of the focus lens in the first photographing system. AF control by the first imaging system 212A is performed by specifying the focal length that is the maximum value of the contrast value based on the value Ct, and moving the focus lens to the position of the specified focus lens as the focus position. Made.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the AF rough search using the first imaging system 212A is used for the AF control when imaging with the second imaging system 212B in which the focal depth is set shorter than that of the first imaging system 212A. Based on the AF rough search, an AF detailed search by the second imaging system 212B is performed. That is, as described above, the focal length range to be AF-searched by the second photographing system 212B is determined using the first photographing system 212A having a short moving distance of the focus lens, and only the focal distance range is determined as the second photographing system. By performing the AF search at 212B, the time for the AF detailed search by the second imaging system 212B can be shortened, and the AF control (focus position search) can be speeded up.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the contrast value Ct of the search range (single focus lens search range) by the first imaging system 212A is calculated, and a predetermined range (zoom lens search) including the maximum value of the calculated contrast value Ct is calculated. Range) is set as the approximate focal length, and then the focus lens of the second imaging system 212B is driven to be at the end position of the approximate focal length, and only the zoom lens search range is set in the second imaging. By controlling the focus lens of the system 212B to move, the contrast value Ct at each position is calculated, and the maximum value is set as the focus position, so that the detailed focus position can be determined. Accordingly, the focal position can be determined without performing the AF detailed search by the second imaging system 212B having a long moving distance of the focus lens, and the focal position search time can be shortened.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to one having two photographing systems 212A and 212B each having a different depth of focus. However, the number of photographing systems is not limited to two. You may make it provide two or more.

  In the above embodiment, the driving circuit 252A and the motor 254A are provided corresponding to the first imaging system 212A, and the driving circuit 252B and the motor 254B are provided corresponding to the second imaging system 212B. The driving circuits 252A and 252B and the motors 254A and 254B may be shared by the first imaging system and the second imaging system. That is, a common drive circuit and motor for driving the focus lens included in the first focus adjustment unit and the second focus adjustment unit of the present invention may be used.

  In step 310 (see FIG. 16) in the present embodiment, steps 108 to 114 (see FIG. 6) in the first embodiment are further performed, and in step 304 (see FIG. 16), the first process is further performed. Step 108 (see FIG. 6) in the first embodiment may be performed, and in steps 308 (see FIG. 16), steps 102 to 114 (see FIG. 6) in the first embodiment may be further performed. . This has the effects of both the first embodiment and the second embodiment. That is, it is possible to shorten the time for searching for the focal position and to perform shooting while capturing the surrounding situation.

  Note that a photographed image photographed by one photographing system determined by the operation of the changeover switch is recorded on the memory card.

  Further, as described above, the photographing lens 216A is configured by a single focal lens, and the photographing lens 216B is configured by a zoom lens (variable focal length lens), and the first photographing system and the second sub lens. The photographing systems are photographing systems having different angles of view.

  (Third embodiment)

  Next, an example of the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a digital camera.

  Since the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention has substantially the same configuration as that of the second embodiment described above, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and different parts are described. explain.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the single display unit 246 is provided, and as shown in FIG. 19, the image output from the first imaging system CCD 218A is displayed on the screen G of the display unit 246. An area 200A for displaying an image (wide) by the video signal based on the signal and an area 200B for displaying an image (television) by the video signal based on the image signal output from the CCD 218B of the second photographing system are provided. It has been.

  The CPU 230 has various input means such as a release button 272, a zoom lever 274, and a normal mode (tele) by the first photographing system and a telephoto by the second photographing system via the input / output I / F 270. A changeover switch 276 for selecting a mode (zoom) is connected, and the corresponding circuit block is controlled based on the input signals from these input means, and the zooming operation of the taking lens 216B and the taking lens 216A, Control of 216B focus adjustment (AF) operation, automatic exposure adjustment (AE), and the like are performed.

  The input means has various forms such as a switch button, a dial, and a slide type knob, and there is also an aspect in which a setting menu or a selection item is displayed on a screen of a touch panel or a liquid crystal monitor display unit and a desired item is selected with a cursor. . The input means may be disposed in the camera body, or may be configured as a remote control transmitter separated from the camera body.

  Note that the AF control itself in the digital camera 210 according to the present embodiment is the same as the AF control of the second embodiment described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, a control routine performed using the contrast value Ct calculated as described above in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step 400, it is determined whether or not the release button 272 is half-pressed. If the determination is negative, the process directly returns and waits until the determination is affirmed. If the determination is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 402.

  In step 402, it is determined from the operation state of the changeover switch 276 whether the second imaging system is selected. If the determination is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 404.

  In step 404, AF rough search by the first imaging system is performed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 22, it is indicated in which range (focusing range) the AF rough search by the first imaging system is performed in the area 200A corresponding to the first imaging system. Specifically, in this embodiment, [] is adopted as the focus range display mark M, and the interval is widened so that the space between [] is the focus range. The focus range display mark is not limited to []. "", [], Etc. may be used.

  Incidentally, the AF rough search is specifically executed as follows. That is, the motor 254A of the first imaging system 212A is step-driven to move the focus lens (imaging lens 16A), and the contrast value Ct at each position of the focus lens is calculated.

  Based on the calculated contrast value Ct at each position of the focus lens in the first imaging system 212A, the focal length that is the maximum value of the contrast value is specified, and a predetermined range including the focal length is specified. The predetermined range is a range to be searched in the subsequent detailed search, and the size of the predetermined range is set according to the zoom lens magnification of the second photographing system 12B.

  Next, in step 406, the second imaging system motor 254B is step-driven so that the search start position within a predetermined range specified by the AF rough search is performed, and the second imaging system focus lens (imaging lens 16B) is driven. ) Is moved.

  Subsequently, in step 408, an AF detailed search by the second imaging system is performed. That is, the motor 254B of the second imaging system is step-driven from the focus lens position moved in step 406 to move the focus lens, and the contrast value Ct at each position of the focus lens is calculated as in the AF rough search. Then, the focus lens position at which the calculated contrast value Ct is the maximum value is set as the focus position, and the focus adjustment is performed by moving the focus lens of the second photographing system to the position. Note that the AF detailed search performs only the focal length range determined by the first imaging system 212A.

  That is, in the digital camera 210 according to the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, when shooting with the second shooting system 212B in which the depth of focus is set shorter than that of the first imaging system 212A, A rough focus position range is determined by performing AF rough search by the first imaging system 212A, and the determined focal position range is set to a second focus depth shorter than that of the first imaging system 212A. The focus position is determined by performing an AF detailed search in the photographing system 212B. In general, in AF control of a zoom lens or the like with a short focal depth, a motor is driven step by step and an AF rough search is performed, and then an AF detailed search is performed. The amount of movement increases and takes time. However, in the present embodiment, as described above, the AF rough search is performed by the first imaging system 12A having a longer depth of focus (using a single focus lens) than the second imaging system 12B in which the depth of focus is set to be short. As a result, the amount of movement of the focus lens that moves during AF rough search can be reduced compared to the above case. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the search time for the focal position when photographing with the second photographing system 12B having a short focal depth.

  In step 408, as in step 404, as shown in FIG. 22, the range (focusing range) of the AF rough search by the second imaging system is displayed in the area 200B which is a screen corresponding to the second imaging system. ). Specifically, in the present embodiment, as described above, the interval is widened so that the interval between [] as the focus range display mark M is the focus range. As described above, the present invention is not limited to using [], and “”, [], etc. may be used.

  In step 410, it is determined whether or not the result of the AF detailed search in step 408 is in focus. If it is determined that the in-focus state has been achieved, in step 412, the in-focus state indicating that the in-focus area 200B (see FIG. 22) corresponding to the second imaging system is in-focus as a focus adjustment result. Display. That is, for example, during execution of AF rough search as described above, the interval of [] is widened corresponding to the focus range, and this step 412 shows that the focus has been achieved. Then, as shown in FIG. 23 (A), display is made so that the interval between [] is narrowed to indicate that the in-focus state has been achieved (in-focus success display). The in-focus success display is not limited to display so as to narrow the interval between []. For example, “succeeding in focus” may be displayed instead of displaying to narrow the interval between [] or displaying to narrow the interval between [].

  In the next step 414, it is determined whether or not the release button 272 is fully pressed. If it is determined that the release button 272 is fully pressed, it is determined in step 416 whether or not the release half-press is released. When it is determined that the release half-press has been released, the present process is terminated, that is, the AF operation performed by the release half-press and the process for obtaining an accurate photographing EV by repeating the photometry operation a plurality of times are terminated. . If it is determined in step 416 that the release half-press is not released, the process returns to step 414.

  If it is determined in step 414 that the release button 272 is not fully pressed, in step 418, the aperture value and shutter speed finally determined by the processing performed by half-pressing the release button 272 as described above are set. Based on this, the aperture 217 is driven so that the final determined aperture value is obtained, and the charge accumulation time is controlled by the electronic shutter so as to achieve the determined shutter speed, and an image is recorded.

  If it is determined in step 410 that focusing cannot be performed, that is, focusing cannot be performed, in step 420, an area 200B, which is a screen corresponding to the second imaging system, is displayed as shown in FIG. Then, the focus adjustment result indicating that focusing cannot be performed is displayed as a focus adjustment result. That is, for example, the interval [] is narrowed, and “! AF”, which is an in-focus emphasis mark M 2, is displayed in order to emphasize in-focus. Note that the in-focus emphasis mark M2 is not limited to “! AF”. For example, “in-focus” or “in-focus error” may be displayed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 402 that the second photographing system is not selected from the operating state of the changeover switch 76, that is, the first photographing system is selected, step 422 (see FIG. 21). Thus, an AF search by the first imaging system is performed. The AF search by the first imaging system is the same as the AF rough search by the first imaging system in step 404 above. Also in this case, in order to indicate in which range (focusing range) the AF search by the first imaging system is performed, as shown in FIG. 22, an area 200A which is a screen corresponding to the first imaging system. Similarly to the above, [] is displayed with a wider interval corresponding to the focus range. As described above, the present invention is not limited to using [], and “”, [], etc. may be used.

  In step 424, it is determined whether or not the result of the AF search in step 422 is in focus. If it is determined that the in-focus state has been achieved, in step 426, in the same manner as described above, the in-focus state indicating that the focus is adjusted as the focus adjustment result in the area 200A that is the screen corresponding to the first imaging system. Display is performed (see FIG. 23A). That is, for example, as described above, display is performed so that the interval between [] is narrowed. Also in this case, the in-focus success display is not limited to display so as to narrow the interval between []. For example,

  In addition to displaying to narrow the interval of [] or instead of displaying to narrow the interval of [], “success in focus” may be displayed.

  In the next step 428, it is determined whether or not the release button 272 is fully pressed. If it is determined that the release button 72 is fully pressed, it is determined in step 430 whether or not the release half-press is released. If it is determined that the release half-press has been released, this processing is terminated, that is, the AF operation and the photometry operation performed by the release half-press as described above are repeated a plurality of times to obtain an accurate photographing EV. The process ends. If it is determined in step 430 that the release half-press is not released, the process returns to step 428.

  If it is not determined in step 428 that the release button 272 is fully pressed, in step 432, the aperture value finally determined by the process performed when the release button 272 is half-pressed as described above. Based on the shutter speed, the diaphragm 217 is driven so as to achieve the finally determined aperture value, and the charge accumulation time is controlled by the electronic shutter so as to achieve the determined shutter speed, and an image is recorded. To do.

  If it is determined in step 424 that the in-focus state cannot be achieved, that is, the in-focus state cannot be achieved, in step 434, the focus adjustment result of the area 200A that is a screen corresponding to the first photographing system cannot be obtained. An in-focus indication is displayed to indicate that there is something (see FIG. 23 (B)). That is, for example, as described above, the interval between [] is narrowed, and “! AF”, which is an in-focus mark, is displayed in order to indicate that in-focus is not possible. The in-focus mark is not limited to “! AF”, but “in-focus”, “in-focus error”, and the like may be displayed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the present embodiment, the focus range is indicated when performing the AF search, so that the user recognizes in which range the focus is achieved. Can do.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as a result of the AF search, in-focus or in-focus is displayed corresponding to the case where the focus has been achieved and the case where the focus has not been achieved, so that the user can focus or focus. When it is recognized that the camera cannot be focused, it is possible to focus again by changing the direction of the camera so that the range of the focus adjustment is changed.

  In the present embodiment, when an AF search is performed using the first imaging system 212A, an image is displayed in an area corresponding to the first imaging system 212A, and the second imaging system 212B is displayed. When performing an AF search using this, an image is displayed in an area corresponding to the second imaging system 212B, so it can be confirmed immediately before imaging which imaging system is being used for imaging. . Therefore, it is possible to avoid a user's worry that the user may continue to shoot with an incorrect selection.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment described above, AF control when shooting with the second shooting system 212B having a focal depth shorter than that of the first shooting system 12A is as follows. An AF rough search is performed using the first imaging system 212A, and an AF detailed search by the second imaging system 12B is performed based on the AF rough search. That is, as described above, the focal length range to be AF-searched by the second photographing system 212B is determined using the first photographing system 212A having a short moving distance of the focus lens, and only the focal distance range is determined as the second photographing system. By performing the AF search at 212B, the time for the AF detailed search by the second imaging system 212B can be shortened, and the AF control (focus position search) can be speeded up.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to one having two photographing systems 212A and 212B each having a different depth of focus. However, the number of photographing systems is not limited to two. You may make it provide two or more.

  In the above embodiment, the driving circuit 252A and the motor 254A are provided corresponding to the first imaging system 212A, and the driving circuit 252B and the motor 254B are provided corresponding to the second imaging system 212B. The driving circuits 252A and 252B and the motors 254A and 254B may be shared by the first imaging system and the second imaging system. That is, a common drive circuit and motor for driving the focus lens included in the first focus adjustment unit and the second focus adjustment unit of the present invention may be used.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a single display unit 46 is provided, and as shown in FIG. 21, the video signal based on the image signal output from the CCD 218A of the first imaging system is displayed on the screen G of the display unit 46. An area 200A for displaying an image and an area 200B for displaying an image by the video signal based on the image signal output from the CCD 18B of the second photographing system are provided. The present invention is not limited, and a single display unit 246 is provided. As shown in FIG. 24, the video signal based on the image signal output from the CCD 218A of the first imaging system is displayed on the screen G of the display unit 246. An area in which an image (television) is displayed as a whole and an image (wide) is displayed on the screen G by the video signal based on the image signal output from the CCD 218B of the second photographing system. 00B1 may be provided. Also in this case, the focus range and the like are indicated. Conversely, an image is displayed on the entire display by the video signal based on the image signal output from the CCD 218B of the second photographing system on the screen G of the display unit 246, and the first photographing is performed on the screen G. An area for displaying an image by the video signal based on the image signal output from the system CCD 218A may be provided. Furthermore, at least one display unit may be provided corresponding to each of the first imaging system and the second imaging system, and an image corresponding to the corresponding display unit may be displayed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the two imaging systems 212A and 212B having different focal depths are provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of imaging systems having the same focal depth are provided. May be. In this case, AF control may be performed in each photographing system without performing rough search. Even in this case, when the AF search is performed, since the focus range is indicated, the user can recognize in which range the focus is set. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as a result of the AF search, in-focus or in-focus is displayed corresponding to the case where the focus has been achieved and the case where the focus has not been achieved, so that the user can focus or focus. When it is recognized that the camera cannot be focused, it is possible to focus again by changing the direction of the camera so that the range of the focus adjustment is changed.

  In the example described above, an example in which a plurality of imaging systems are provided has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be similarly applied to a case in which only one imaging system is provided.

  (Fourth embodiment)

  Next, an example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. Since the configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the third embodiment described above, the description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the subject images photographed by the image sensors 218A and 218B are displayed on the screen of the display 226 so that they can be confirmed, for example, as shown in FIG. ing. In FIG. 3, a photographed image photographed by the first image sensor (television image sensor) 50A is displayed at the center of the photographed image photographed by the second image sensor (wide image sensor) 50B. An example is shown. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the picked-up image image | photographed with the 1st image pick-up element (television image pick-up element) 218A is displayed on the display part whole surface, and it image | photographed with the 1st image pick-up element (tele image pick-up element) 218A. For example, the captured image captured by the second image sensor (wide-area image sensor) 218B may be displayed on the upper right end of the captured image.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, which are imaging processing routines that are repeatedly executed every predetermined time after the power is turned on.

  In step 502, it is determined whether or not the operation state of the changeover switch 276 has been switched to zoom shooting selection. If the determination is negative, in step 504, the image represented by the image data from the imaging elements of the first imaging system and the second imaging system is displayed. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, an image is displayed on the entire display unit by an image signal based on an image signal output from the first imaging system CCD 218A, and an image output from the second imaging system CCD 218B. An image is displayed in the center of the image corresponding to the first imaging system by the video signal based on the signal. Note that the display mode of the image of each photographing system is not limited to the mode shown in FIG. 3, but may be the above mode shown in FIG. Further, the present invention is not limited to displaying the image represented by the image data from the imaging elements of the first photographing system and the second photographing system, and only the image of the single focus photographing system (first photographing system) is displayed. It may be displayed on the entire surface.

  In step 506, based on the signal from the zoom lever 274, it is determined whether or not the zoom operation is being performed. If it is determined that the zoom operation is performed, in step 508, digital zoom processing (image processing) is performed on the image data obtained by the single focus photographing system (first photographing system) based on the signal from the zoom lever 274. )

  In step 510, it is determined whether or not the release button 272 is half-pressed. If it is determined by the release button 272 that the release button 272 is half-pressed, in step 512, an AF search is performed using the single focus imaging system (first imaging system). The AF search according to this embodiment will be described later.

  In the next step 514, it is determined whether or not the release button 272 is fully pressed. If it is determined that the release button 272 is fully pressed, it is determined in step 516 whether or not the release half-press is released. If it is determined that the release half-press has been released, the present process is terminated, that is, an AF operation to be described later performed by the release half-press and a process for obtaining an accurate photographing EV by repeating the photometry operation a plurality of times. finish. If it is determined in step 516 that the release half-press is not released, the process returns to step 514.

  If it is determined in step 514 that the release button 272 is not fully pressed, the aperture value and shutter speed finally determined in step 518 by the processing performed by half-pressing the release button 272 as described above. Based on this, the diaphragm 17 is driven so as to finally determine the aperture value, and the charge accumulation time is controlled by the electronic shutter so as to achieve the determined shutter speed, and an image is recorded.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 502 that the zoom shooting has been selected, in step 520 (see FIG. 26), each of the first and second imaging systems is imaged in the same manner as in step 504. An image represented by image data from the element is displayed. In step 522, based on the signal from the zoom lever 274, it is determined whether or not the zoom operation is being performed. If it is determined in step 522 that the zoom operation is being performed, in step 524, whether the zoom operation has already been performed is greater than the adjustable range of the zoom operation, that is, is at the TELE (telephoto) end. Judge whether or not. If it is determined that it is not at the TELE end, perform a zoom operation. That is, as described above, the lens is moved by controlling the motor M254B via the drive circuit 252B. On the other hand, if it is determined at the tap 524 based on the zoom operation that it is already at the TELE (telephoto) end, the digital zoom processing (image processing) described above is performed.

  In step 530, it is determined whether or not the release button 272 is half-pressed. If it is determined that the release button 272 is half-pressed, in step 532, an AF rough search is performed by the single focus imaging system (first imaging system). The AF rough search according to this embodiment will be described later.

  In the next step 534, an AF detailed search is performed by the zoom photographing system (second photographing system).

  In the next step 536, it is determined whether or not the release button 272 is fully pressed. If it is determined that the release button 272 is fully pressed, it is determined in step 538 whether or not the release half-press is released. When it is determined that the release half-press has been released, the present process is terminated, that is, the AF operation performed by the release half-press and the process for obtaining an accurate photographing EV by repeating the photometry operation a plurality of times are terminated. . If it is determined in step 538 that the release half-press is not released, the process returns to step 536.

  If it is determined in step 536 that the release button 272 is fully pressed, based on the aperture value and shutter speed finally determined in step 540 by the process performed by half-pressing the release button 272 as described above. Then, the aperture 217 is driven so that the final determined aperture value is obtained, and the charge accumulation time is controlled by the electronic shutter so as to achieve the determined shutter speed, and an image is recorded.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a single zoom lever is provided, and the zoom lever can be used to instruct a change in the angle of view of the first photographing system and the second photographing system. Can be configured. Further, the troublesome operation of the zoom rubber corresponding to each photographing system can be eliminated, and the operability can be improved. Furthermore, since the zoom rubber is not provided for each photographing system, the number of parts can be reduced, and the size and cost can be reduced.

  Note that the AF control itself according to the present embodiment is as described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, a modification of the present embodiment will be described. In the above-described embodiment, the entire image is displayed on the single display unit for the image captured by the tele imaging system and the image captured by the wide imaging system. The image captured by the imaging system is displayed, and only the predetermined area is displayed for the image captured by the wide imaging system. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a photographed image by the telephoto photographing system is displayed in the upper area of the screen of the display unit, and only a predetermined region of the photographed image by the wide photographing system is cut out in the display unit screen. You may make it display on the lower side. Such display switching can be realized, for example, by switching a display by operating a switch or the like, and can be controlled by the display driver 248.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when shooting a horse race or the like, the image taken by the wide-use shooting system only needs to display only the predetermined band-like area 96 on the display unit. By designating by operating the switch and instructing to display the predetermined area 96 on the lower side of the screen, it is possible to grasp substantially the entire image captured by the wide imaging system. In addition, by displaying only the predetermined region 96 of the captured image by the wide imaging system in this way, it becomes possible to effectively display necessary information with a small display area.

  In the above-described embodiment, the two photographing systems are provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, three or four photographing systems are provided and the photographed image is displayed on the display unit at the same time. In this case, the display unit may be provided with a number of display screens corresponding to the photographing system.

  In the above embodiment, the first imaging system 212A includes the optical system 214A, the motor 254A, the drive circuit 252A, and the CCD 218A, and the second imaging system 212B includes the optical system 214B, the motor 254B, the drive circuit 252B, and Although the CCD 218B is provided, the present invention is not limited to this. The lens 216A and the lens 216B are made common, and light (subject image) incident through the common lens is separated (half mirror or the like). ) And may be led to the CCD 218A of the first imaging system 212A and the CCD 218B of the second imaging system 12B. The lens 216B corresponds to the second variable focus optical system of the present invention.

  (Fifth embodiment)

  Next, an example of the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a digital camera. Note that the digital camera according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that of the second embodiment described above, and therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. Different parts will be described.

  FIG. 27 shows a block diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera 210 has two independent and substantially identical photographing systems (a first photographing system 212A and a second photographing system 212B), and the CCD 218A and the like via the photographing optical systems 214A and 214B, respectively. A subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of 218B.

  The photographing optical system 214A includes a photographing lens 215A, a focus lens 216A, and a diaphragm 217A. Similarly, the photographing optical system 214B includes a photographing lens 215B, a focus lens 216B, and a diaphragm 217B. ing. The photographing lenses 215A and 215B are constituted by zoom lenses (focal length variable lenses), for example. Thus, in FIG. 27, the taking lens and the focus lens are explicitly shown. Note that the photographing lenses 215A and 215B may be constituted by single focus lenses.

  The CCD 218A corresponds to the first image sensor of the present invention, the CCD 218B corresponds to the second image sensor of the present invention, the focus lens 216A corresponds to the first lens of the present invention, and the focus lens 216B is the main image sensor. This corresponds to the second lens of the invention.

  The first imaging system 212A and the second imaging system 212B may be used for shooting and for focus adjustment described later, respectively, and one is used for shooting and focus adjustment, and the other is used only for focus adjustment. May be.

  The CPU 230 controls the corresponding circuit block based on the input signal from the operation unit 250, controls the zooming operation of the photographing lenses 215A and 215B, the automatic focus adjustment (AF) operation by the focus lenses 216A and 216B, and the automatic exposure adjustment. (AE) is controlled.

  The CPU 230 performs various calculations such as a focus evaluation calculation and an AE calculation based on the image signals output from the CCDs 218A and 218B, and based on these calculations, the photographing lenses 215A and 215B, the focus lenses 216A and 216B, and the aperture 217A. 217B drive circuits 252A and 252B are controlled. That is, by driving the motors 254A and 254B, the photographing lenses 215A and 215B are zoomed to change the photographing magnification. In the case of a configuration for manual zooming, the motors 254A and 254B can be omitted.

  Further, by driving the motors 256A and 256B, the focus lenses 216A and 216B are moved to the in-focus positions, and the apertures 217A and 217B are set to appropriate aperture values. The motors 256A and 256B are stepping motors, and the focus lens position is controlled by controlling the number of steps. The motors 256A and 256B are not limited to stepping motors, and for example, DC motors can be used. Similarly, stepping motors, DC motors, and the like can be used for the motors 254A and 254B.

  Other configurations, AE control, and basic AF control are the same as in the second embodiment, and the taking lenses 216A and 216B in the second embodiment are changed to the taking lenses 215A and 215B in the present embodiment. Since the focus lens in the second embodiment may be replaced with the focus lenses 216A and 216B in the present embodiment, detailed description is omitted.

  Next, AF control in digital camera 210 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As described above, the AF control employs the contrast AF method, and when the release button is in the “half-pressed” state, the focus lens 216A, 216B is moved by driving the motors 256A, 256B via the drive circuits 252A, 252B. Thus, the focus lens is positioned at a position where the contrast is maximized.

  Since the calculation of the contrast value Ct as the AF evaluation value is the same as that in the second embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, AF control performed using the calculated contrast value Ct will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step 600, it is determined whether or not the release button has been pressed halfway. If the release button is not half-pressed, the determination in step 600 is negative and the process waits until the release button is half-pressed. On the other hand, when the release button is pressed halfway, the determination at step 600 is affirmed, and the routine proceeds to step 602.

  In step 602, the driving circuit 252A is instructed to move the focus lens 216A of the first imaging system 212A to a first predetermined position A (see FIG. 29) that is focused when the subject is located at infinity. The drive circuit 252B is driven to drive the motor 256A and move the focus lens 216B of the second imaging system 212B to a second predetermined position B (see FIG. 29) that is focused when the subject is located at the closest position. Instructs to drive motor 256B.

In the next step 604, a contrast value Ct _A (first evaluation value) and a contrast value Ct _B (second evaluation value) are calculated as AF evaluation values of the first imaging system 212A and the second imaging system 212B, respectively. These are stored in the memories 226A and 226B together with the lens position at that time.

In the next step 606, it is determined whether or not the peak values (maximum values) of the contrast values Ct _A and Ct _B have been detected. Specifically, the previously calculated contrast value Ct _A stored in the memory 226A and the currently calculated contrast value Ct _A are compared, and the previously calculated contrast value Ct _B stored in the memory 226B is compared with the currently calculated contrast value. Compare Ct _B. Then, the contrast value Ct _A calculated this time is the contrast value Ct _B calculated or if this is smaller than the contrast value Ct _A previously calculated smaller than the contrast value Ct _B previously calculated, the contrast value Ct previously calculated Let _A or Ct _B be the maximum value Ct _max . This is because, as shown in FIG. 29, there is basically only one in-focus position where the contrast value Ct is maximum, and the contrast value Ct generally increases toward this in-focus position. It is.

When the maximum value Ct _max of the contrast value Ct is detected, the determination at step 606 is affirmed and the routine proceeds to step 608.

In step 608, the maximum value Ct _max in the corresponding lens position C (focus position) to the focusing lens 216A, the routine ends by moving each 216B.

On the other hand, if the maximum value Ct _max is not detected, the determination at step 606 is denied and the routine proceeds to step 610.

  In step 610, it is determined whether or not the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B are the same. If the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B are not the same, the determination in step 610 is denied and the process proceeds to step 612.

In step 612, the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B are driven one step, and the process returns to step 604. That is, the focus lens 216A is moved by a predetermined step width L toward the second predetermined position B shown in FIG. 29, and the focus lens 216B is moved toward the first predetermined position A shown in FIG. Move by width L. The process of driving the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B by one step is repeated until the maximum value Ct _max is detected or the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B are the same position.

  Note that the step width L is set to a length equal to or less than the depth of focus, for example. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the focus lenses 216A and 216B from moving beyond the range of the depth of focus including the in-focus position, and it is possible to focus accurately.

By the way, in the determination of whether or not the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B are the same in step 610, in other words, the focus lens 216A and 216B are not detected at the first predetermined position A without detecting the maximum value Ct _max. It is the same as determining whether or not it has moved to an intermediate point between the second predetermined position B and the second predetermined position B. As described above, in the case where the maximum value Ct _max is not detected in any case, as shown in FIG. 30, the peak of the AF evaluation value is at the intermediate point between the first predetermined position A and the second predetermined position B. In some cases, the AF evaluation value is flat with no peak, for example, when shooting a blue sky.

  When determining whether or not there is a peak of the AF evaluation value at an intermediate point between the first predetermined position A and the second predetermined position B, whether or not the AF evaluation values of the respective photographing systems tend to increase. Can be judged.

  Therefore, if the determination in step 610 is affirmed, it is determined in step 614 whether or not the AF evaluation values of the respective photographing systems tend to increase. If both AF evaluation values of the photographing systems tend to increase, it is determined that the midpoint is the in-focus position C, and this routine is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the AF evaluation values of the respective photographing systems do not tend to increase, it is determined that there is no peak, and in the next step 616, the focus lenses 216A and 216B are moved to predetermined pann positions, respectively. Exit. The pan position may be a predetermined fixed position, or a correspondence relationship between a predetermined zoom position of the lens and the pan position is stored as a look-up table, and the pan position corresponding to the zoom position is stored from the look-up table. The position may be obtained.

  As described above, in this embodiment, two imaging systems are provided, and the focus lens of one photographing system is moved from the first predetermined position where the in-focus position is at infinity to the second position where the in-focus position is the closest position. In order to perform focus adjustment while performing step driving so as to move toward the predetermined position and step driving the focus lens of the other imaging system toward the first predetermined position from the second predetermined position, The detection time of the focus position can be greatly shortened.

  In this embodiment, the initial position of the focus lens 216A is set to the first predetermined position A and the initial position of the focus lens 216B is set to the second predetermined position B. First, the focus lens is set to each initial position. Although the case where the focus is adjusted after the movement has been described as an example, the initial position may be the current position. In this case, even when the focal position is at the center as shown in FIG. 30, the detection of the in-focus position can be accelerated depending on the current position of the focus lens.

  (Sixth embodiment)

  Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same parts as those in the fifth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Since the configuration of the digital camera in the present embodiment is the same as that of the fifth embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  Next, AF control according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In FIG. 31, steps that perform the same processes as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 28 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 31, since only the focus lens moving process in step 612A is different from the flowchart shown in FIG. 28, this process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 32, and the other description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 32, in step 700, it is determined whether or not there is a lens position where the contrast values Ct _A and Ct _B substantially match. Specifically, all the contrast values Ct _A stored in the memory 226A are compared with all the contrast values Ct _B stored in the memory 226B, and the lens position at which the contrast values Ct _A and Ct _B substantially match is determined. Determine if it exists.

If there is no lens position at which the contrast values Ct _A and Ct _B substantially match, the process proceeds to step 708. In step 708, similarly to step 112 in FIG. 28, the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B are each driven by one step. That is, the focus lens 216A is moved by the predetermined step width L toward the second predetermined position B, and the focus lens 216B is moved by the step width L toward the first predetermined position A.

On the other hand, if there is a lens position where the contrast values Ct _A and Ct _B substantially match, the determination in step 700 is affirmed and the routine proceeds to step 702.

For example, if the relationship between the lens position and the contrast value is as shown in FIG. 33, when the focus lens 216B is driven to the position B3, the contrast value Ct _{B at} this position is the contrast value at the position A. It agrees with Ct _A and the determination in step 700 is affirmed.

In step 702, an intermediate position between the lens positions where the contrast values Ct _A and Ct _B substantially coincide is calculated. For example, in the case of FIG. 33, an intermediate position C that is an intermediate position between the position A and the position B3 is calculated.

  In the next step 704, the movement positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B are determined based on the calculated intermediate position C. Specifically, a predetermined range including the intermediate position C is determined, an end on the infinity side of the predetermined range is determined as a movement position of the focus lens 216A, and an end on the closest side of the predetermined range is a movement position of the focus lens 216B. Determine as This predetermined range is determined in the vicinity of the intermediate position C, for example, a range of several steps centered on the intermediate position C. For example, in the case of FIG. 33, a range corresponding to one step on both sides around the intermediate position C, that is, positions A4 to B6 are defined as a predetermined range.

  As described above, the predetermined range including the intermediate position of the lens position where the AF evaluation values substantially coincide with each other is obtained, and both ends of the predetermined range are set as the movement positions of the respective focus lenses. The relationship between the lens position and the AF evaluation value This is because, as shown in FIG. 33, it is general that the shape of the normal distribution is generally centered on the position where the contrast value Ct is maximum.

  In the next step 706, the focus lenses 216A and 216B are moved to the movement positions determined in step 704, and the process returns. For example, in the case of FIG. 33, the focus lens 216A is moved to the position A4, and the focus lens 216B is moved to the position B6. The above processing is repeated until the maximum contrast value is detected or until the positions of the focus lenses are the same.

  In this way, the predetermined range including the intermediate position of the lens positions where the AF evaluation values substantially match is obtained, and each focus lens is moved to both ends of the predetermined range, so that the time for detecting the in-focus position is further shortened. Can do. For example, in the case of FIG. 33, since the focus lens 216B is driven to the position B3 and then is driven to the position B6 while skipping the positions B4 and B5, the time can be shortened accordingly.

  Note that the step driving width after the focus lenses 216A and 216B are moved to the vicinity of the intermediate position C may be reduced. Thereby, focus adjustment can be performed more accurately.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case of a configuration including two independent photographing optical systems has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 34, light incident from one photographing optical system 14 is used. The half mirror 271 may be branched in two directions, and the branched light may be incident on the CCDs 18A and 18B. In this case, focus adjustment is performed by moving the CCDs 218A and 218B. Thereby, since two AF evaluation values are calculated from the same image, more accurate focus adjustment can be performed.

  (Seventh embodiment)

  Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the configuration of the digital camera in the present embodiment is substantially the same as that of the fifth embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted, and different portions will be mainly described.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the digital camera 210 according to the present embodiment has two independent imaging systems (first imaging system 212A and second imaging system 212B). The difference from the digital camera according to the embodiment is that the two photographing systems are independent from each other and at least one of the imaging element and the photographing optical system is different. Since other configurations, AE control, AF control, and the like are the same as those in the fifth embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  Next, AF control performed using the contrast value Ct calculated as described above will be described. The basic flow is the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. 28, and will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. Here, a case will be described in which the photographing optical system 214A is the same as the photographing optical system 214B, and the number of pixels of the CCD 218A is larger than the number of pixels of the CCD 218B.

  In step 600, it is determined whether or not the release button has been pressed halfway. If the release button is not half-pressed, the determination in step 600 is negative and the process waits until the release button is half-pressed. On the other hand, when the release button is pressed halfway, the determination at step 600 is affirmed, and the routine proceeds to step 602.

  In step 602, the drive circuit 252A is instructed to move the focus lens 216A of the first imaging system 12A to a first predetermined position A (see FIG. 36) that is focused when the subject is located at infinity. The drive circuit 252B is driven to drive the motor 56A and move the focus lens 216B of the second imaging system 212B to a second predetermined position B (see FIG. 36) that is focused when the subject is located at the closest position. Instructs to drive motor 256B.

In the next step 604, a contrast value Ct _A (first evaluation value) and a contrast value Ct _B (second evaluation value) are calculated as AF evaluation values of the first imaging system 212A and the second imaging system 212B, respectively. These are stored in the memories 226A and 226B together with the lens position at that time.

In the next step 606, it is determined whether or not the peak values (maximum values) of the contrast values Ct _A and Ct _B have been detected. Specifically, the previously calculated contrast value Ct _A stored in the memory 226A and the currently calculated contrast value Ct _A are compared, and the previously calculated contrast value Ct _B stored in the memory 226B is compared with the currently calculated contrast value. Compare Ct _B. Then, the contrast value Ct _A calculated this time is the contrast value Ct _B calculated or if this is smaller than the contrast value Ct _A previously calculated smaller than the contrast value Ct _B previously calculated, the contrast value Ct previously calculated Let _A or Ct _B be the maximum value Ct _max . This is because, as shown in FIG. 36, there is basically only one in-focus position where the contrast value Ct is maximum, and the contrast value Ct generally increases toward this in-focus position. It is.

  Since the CCD 218A and the CCD 218B have different numbers of pixels, the contrast values calculated as shown in FIG. 36 are different in the respective photographing systems, but since the subjects to be photographed are the same, the peak positions are substantially the same.

When the maximum value Ct _max of the contrast value Ct is detected, the determination at step 606 is affirmed and the routine proceeds to step 608.

In step 608, the maximum value Ct _max in the corresponding lens position C (focus position) to the focusing lens 216A, the routine ends by moving each 216B. On the other hand, if the maximum value Ct _max is not detected, the determination at step 606 is denied and the routine proceeds to step 610.

  In step 610, it is determined whether or not the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B are the same. If the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B are not the same, the determination in step 610 is denied and the process proceeds to step 612.

In step 612, the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B are driven one step, and the process returns to step 604. That is, the focus lens 216A is moved by a predetermined step width L1 toward the second predetermined position B shown in FIG. 36, and the focus lens 216B is moved toward the first predetermined position A shown in FIG. Move by width L2. The process of driving the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B by one step is repeated until the maximum value Ct _max is detected or the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B are the same position.

  Note that the step widths L1 and L2 are set to a length equal to or less than the focal depth, for example. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the focus lenses 216A and 216B from moving beyond the range of the depth of focus including the in-focus position, and it is possible to focus accurately. Further, as shown in FIG. 36, the step width L2 can be made larger than the step width L1. This is because the second imaging system 212B using the CCD 218B with a small number of pixels can perform an AF search in a larger step because the allowable circle of confusion increases.

By the way, whether or not the lens positions of the focus lenses 216A and 216B are the same in step 610 is determined whether or not the focus lenses 216A and 216B have moved to the same position without detecting the maximum value Ct _max. It is to be. As described above, when the maximum value Ct _max is not detected in any case, there is a peak at a position driven by the same number of steps, and when the blue sky is photographed, for example, there is no peak and the AF evaluation value is flat. There are cases.

  When determining whether or not there is a peak at the position driven with the same number of steps, it is only necessary to determine whether or not the AF evaluation values of the respective imaging systems are both increasing.

  Therefore, if the determination in step 610 is affirmed, it is determined in step 614 whether or not the AF evaluation values of the respective photographing systems tend to increase. If both AF evaluation values of the photographing systems tend to increase, it is determined that the lens position at that time is the in-focus position C, and this routine ends.

  On the other hand, if the AF evaluation values of the respective photographing systems do not tend to increase, it is determined that there is no peak, and in the next step 616, the focus lenses 216A and 216B are moved to predetermined pann positions, respectively. Exit. The pan position may be a predetermined fixed position, or a correspondence relationship between a predetermined zoom position of the lens and the pan position is stored as a look-up table, and the pan position corresponding to the zoom position is stored from the look-up table. The position may be obtained.

  As described above, in this embodiment, two imaging systems are provided, and the focus lens of one photographing system is moved from the first predetermined position where the in-focus position is at infinity to the second position where the in-focus position is the closest position. In order to perform focus adjustment while performing step driving so as to move toward the predetermined position and step driving the focus lens of the other imaging system toward the first predetermined position from the second predetermined position, The detection time of the focus position can be greatly shortened.

  In this embodiment, the initial position of the focus lens 216A is set to the first predetermined position A and the initial position of the focus lens 216B is set to the second predetermined position B. First, the focus lens is set to each initial position. Although the case where the focus is adjusted after the movement has been described as an example, the initial position may be the current position. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 37, even when the focal position is near the center, detection of the in-focus position can be accelerated depending on the current position of the focus lens.

  In this embodiment, the two focus lenses are moved to the in-focus position, but only the photographing focus lens may be moved to the in-focus position. If the peak position of the AF evaluation value of the second imaging system 212B is detected first when the first imaging system 212A is for imaging, the focus lens 216A is moved to the vicinity of the peak position, Focusing may be performed again.

  In this embodiment, the case where the number of pixels of the CCD 218A and the CCD 218B is different has been described. However, even when the sizes of the CCD 218A and the CCD 218B are different, it is possible to detect the in-focus position in the same manner as described above. In this case, the CCD 218A and the CCD 218B are different in size so that the shooting angle of view is different, but the AF area (focus adjustment target area) for calculating the AF evaluation value is set to have the same angle of view, and within the AF area AF evaluation values may be calculated from the image data. Thereby, the peak position of each AF evaluation value can be made substantially the same.

  Further, when the CCD 218A and the CCD 218B are the same and the photographing optical system is different, it is possible to shorten the in-focus position detection time.

  For example, when the photographing optical system 214A is a wide-angle optical system and the photographing optical system 214B is a telephoto optical system, as shown in FIG. 38A, the focus lens 216A is positioned at the closest position. When the subject is located at infinity from the second predetermined position B that is focused on, it is moved step by step with a step width L2 toward the first predetermined position A that is in focus, as shown in FIG. As described above, the peak position is detected in the same manner as described above while moving the focus lens 216B from the first predetermined position A toward the second predetermined position B step by step with a step width L1. In this case, when the subject is in the vicinity, it is easy to detect the peak position on the photographing optical system 214A side, and when the subject is near infinity, the peak position is easy to detect on the photographing optical system 214B side. Become.

  As shown in FIGS. 38A and 38B, the step width L2 can be made larger than the step width L1. This is because the depth of field is deeper in the case of the wide-angle optical system than in the telephoto optical system. As a result, the first imaging system 212A using the wide-angle CCD 218A can perform AF search in a larger step than the second imaging system 212B, so that the ratio of detecting the peak position first is higher. Get higher.

  When the peak position of the AF evaluation value is detected in any photographing system, the focus lenses 216A and 216B are moved to the peak position. For example, when the peak position of the AF evaluation value is detected by the wide-angle first imaging system 212A, the focus lens 216A is moved to the detected peak position. For example, as shown in FIG. 39, focus positions A1 to Ai of the focus lens 216A of the first imaging system 212A as shown in FIG. 39, and the focus lens 216B of the second imaging system 212B respectively corresponding to these focus positions. The focus position of the focus lens 216B corresponding to the focus position of the focus lens 216A is obtained by referring to a look-up table representing the correspondence relationship with the focus positions B1 to Bi (i is an integer). Then, the focus lens 216B is moved to the obtained in-focus position. Thus, by preparing the look-up table in advance, the focus position of the focus lens 216B can be easily obtained from the focus position of the focus lens 216A.

  Only the focus lens of the photographing system for photographing may be moved to the in-focus position. If it is desired to focus with higher accuracy, the focus lens may be moved again to the in-focus position and then the same focus as described above may be performed again. For example, when the telephoto second imaging system 212B is for imaging and the peak position of the AF evaluation value of the first imaging system 212A is detected first, the focus lens 216A obtained from the look-up table is used. The focus lens 216B is moved to the focus position of the focus lens 216B corresponding to the focus position, and focusing is performed again from there. Thereby, focusing can be performed with higher accuracy.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case of the configuration including two independent photographing optical systems has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 34, light incident from one photographing optical system 214 is used. The half mirror 271 may be branched in two directions, and the branched light may be incident on the CCDs 218A and 218B having different sizes and pixel numbers. In this case, focus adjustment is performed by moving the CCDs 218A and 218B. The calculation of the AF evaluation value, the detection of the peak position, and the movement of the focus lens can be performed by the same process as described above. Thus, more accurate focus adjustment can be performed by using a common photographing optical system.

1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the imaging | photography system of the digital camera concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the picked-up image by the some imaging system of the digital camera concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electric system of the digital camera concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display of the picked-up image by a some imaging | photography system. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of imaging | photography in the digital camera concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of the display means which displays a picked-up image. It is a figure which shows the other structure of the imaging | photography system of the digital camera concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the digital camera provided with two display screens which display a picked-up image. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in a digital camera provided with two display screens which display a picked-up image. It is a block diagram which shows a part of structural example of an electric system in the case of providing a some display. It is a figure which shows the other display method of the picked-up image by the some imaging | photography system in the digital camera concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the digital camera concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is an image figure which shows an example of the division | segmentation form of the imaging | photography screen in the integration circuit utilized for image correction and AF control. It is an image figure which shows an example of the weighting coefficient Wi allocated to each block of an imaging | photography screen. It is a flowchart which shows AF control of the digital camera concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows an example of AF control of the digital camera concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a graph which shows an example of the conventional AF control. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the digital camera concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a part of flowchart which shows AF control of the digital camera concerning embodiment of this invention. The rest of the flowchart showing the AF control of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention is left. It is a figure which shows the example which provided two display screens which display a picked-up image, and showed the focusing range on each screen. (A) shows an in-focus state, and (B) is a diagram showing an in-focus state. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display of the picked-up image by a some imaging | photography system. It is a part of flowchart which shows the imaging | photography process in the digital camera concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is the remainder of the flowchart which shows the imaging | photography process in the digital camera concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the digital camera which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of AF control in the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a diagram which shows the relationship between the lens position of the focus lens which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention, and a contrast value. It is a diagram which shows the relationship between the lens position of the focus lens which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention, and a contrast value. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of AF control in the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the focus lens movement process in the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a diagram which shows the relationship between the lens position of the focus lens which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention, and a contrast value. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the other example of an imaging | photography system. It is a diagram which shows the relationship between the lens position of the focus lens which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention, and a contrast value. It is a diagram which shows the relationship between the lens position of the focus lens which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention, and a contrast value. It is a diagram which shows the relationship between the lens position of the focus lens which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention, and a contrast value. (A) is a diagram showing the relationship between the lens position and the contrast value of the focus lens of the wide-angle shooting system, and (B) shows the relationship between the lens position and the contrast value of the focus lens of the telephoto shooting system. FIG. It is a table | surface which shows the correspondence of the focus position of the focus lens of the 1st imaging | photography system which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention, and the focus position of the focus lens of the 2nd imaging | photography system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 14 Lens 14A Wide lens 14B Tele lens 25 Tele / wide changeover switch 26, 26A, 26B Display 27, 27A, 27B Display driver 50A Wide image sensor 50B Tele image sensor 51A, 51B Image sensor 80 Memory card 84 Built-in memory 98 Switching means 86 Half mirror 210 Digital camera 212A First imaging system 212B Second imaging system 214A, 214B Imaging optical system 216A, 216B Imaging lens 217 Aperture 218A, 218B CCD
220A, 220B CCD drive circuit 222A, 222B CDS circuit 224A, 224B A / D converter 226A, 226B Memory 228 Timing signal generation circuit 230 CPU
252A, 252B Drive circuit 254A, 254B Motor 260A, 260B Integration circuit

Claims (5)

A first imaging device that images a subject; a first single-focus optical system that forms a subject image on the first imaging device; and a first focus adjustment unit that adjusts a focus on the subject. A first imaging system;
A second imaging device that images the subject, a second variable-focus optical system that changes the focus on the second imaging device, and a second focus adjustment unit that adjusts the focus on the subject. A second shooting system provided;
Switching means for switching a photographing system to be a subject for photographing the subject to the first photographing system or the second photographing system;
A single angle-of-view changing means for instructing a change in the angle of view;
When the switching means is switched to the first photographing system, and when a change in the angle of view is instructed by the angle-of-view changing means, the image data obtained by the first photographing system is changed to the angle-of-view changing means. The image processing is performed so as to correspond to the image whose angle of view has changed in response to the instruction by, the switching means switches to the second photographing system, and the angle of view change is instructed by the angle of view changing means. A control means for adjusting the second variable focus optical system via the second focus adjustment means so that the angle of view changes in response to an instruction from the angle of view change means;
Digital camera equipped with.   The control means, when the change of the angle of view is instructed by the angle of view changing means beyond the adjustable range of the second variable focus optical system via the second focus adjusting means, the second photographing system 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the image data obtained by the step is subjected to image processing so as to correspond to an image whose angle of view has changed in response to an instruction from the angle of view changing means. It further comprises display means for displaying an image,
The control means controls the display means so that an image obtained by each of the first photographing system and the second photographing system is displayed regardless of a switching state by the switching means. The digital camera according to claim 1 or 2. It further comprises display means for displaying an image,
When the switching means switches to the first photographing system, the control means displays only the image obtained by the first photographing system and is switched to the second photographing system by the switching means. The digital display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display unit is controlled so that images obtained by the first photographing system and the second photographing system are displayed. camera. The optical system of the second imaging system is set to have a shorter depth of focus than the optical system of the first imaging system,
Wherein if was Erare switch to the second imaging system by said switching means, after controlling the focus adjusting means of the first imaging system to perform focusing by the first focusing means And controlling the focus adjustment means of each of the first imaging system and the second imaging system so as to perform focus adjustment by the focus adjustment means of the second imaging system based on the focus adjustment result by the focus adjustment means. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera is a digital camera.

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