JP4269344B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic camera, and more particularly to an electronic camera including an image display device such as a liquid crystal monitor that can be used as a viewfinder.

  Conventionally, the number of pixels of a solid-state imaging device used in an electronic camera such as a digital camera is small, from 300,000 pixels to 1.4 million pixels, and the number of pixels tends to increase.

  On the other hand, the number of pixels of the liquid crystal monitor provided in the electronic camera is often about 60,000 pixels to 100,000 pixels at most.

  Therefore, when using a liquid crystal monitor with a small number of pixels as a finder, it is not possible to check the focus state with the accuracy required for recording or print output. For this reason, images captured with an electronic camera are displayed on the computer screen. Or, there may be a case where the defocus is recognized only after printing with a printer.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the focus state of an image captured by a solid-state imaging device having a large number of pixels can be confirmed by an image display means having a small number of pixels. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera that can be accurately aligned.

In order to achieve the object, an electronic camera according to claim 1 forms image light indicating a subject on a light receiving surface of a solid-state image sensor, and outputs the image light imaged on the light-receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor as an image signal. Imaging means for converting into image, recording means for recording the image signal obtained by the imaging means, image display means for displaying an image having a smaller number of pixels than the number of pixels of the solid-state imaging device, and a manual focus adjustment member The manual focus function for focusing by operating the auto focus function, the auto focus function for automatically focusing, the changeover switch for switching between the manual focus function and the autofocus function, and the autofocus function by the changeover switch. When selected, the number of pixels of the image signal obtained from the imaging means is the number of pixels of the image display means. When the manual focus function is selected by means for thinning out the pixels in the horizontal direction and vertical direction of the image signal at a predetermined rate and outputting them to the image display means so as to match, and the changeover switch Then, a predetermined partial image is cut out from all the images taken by the imaging means, and an image signal indicating the cut out partial image is left as it is, or pixels in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the image signal of the partial image are thinned out at the predetermined ratio. And an enlargement processing means for enlarging and displaying the cut-out partial image on the screen of the image display means by thinning out at a thinning rate smaller than the rate, and turning on and off the image display means A display switch, and when the manual focus function is selected by the changeover switch, the image display means Forcibly it is characterized by causing ON.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the autofocus function is selected, the image signal is obtained so that the number of pixels of the image signal obtained from the imaging unit matches the number of pixels of the image display unit. Since the pixels in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction are thinned out at a predetermined thinning rate and output to the image display means, the image of the entire frame is displayed on the screen of the image display means. The focus is adjusted by the autofocus function.
On the other hand, when the manual focus function is selected, a predetermined partial image is cut out from all the images taken by the imaging unit, and the image signal indicating the cut out partial image is left as it is or the horizontal image signal of the partial image is displayed. Since the pixels in the direction and the vertical direction are thinned out at a thinning rate smaller than the predetermined thinning rate and output to the image display unit, the cut-out partial image is enlarged and displayed on the screen of the image display unit. Thus, the focus state of the actually captured image can be confirmed with high accuracy.
When the manual focus function is selected, the image display means can be automatically turned on even if the image display means is turned off before the manual focus function is selected. Can be used for adjustment.

An electronic camera according to claim 2 forms image light indicating a subject on a light-receiving surface of a solid-state image sensor, and converts image light imaged on the light-receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor into an image signal; Recording means for recording an image signal obtained by the imaging means, image display means for displaying an image having a smaller number of pixels than the number of pixels of the solid-state imaging device, a macro switch for switching to macro photography, and the macro switch When not switched to macro photography, the pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions of the image signal are set to a predetermined ratio so that the number of pixels of the image signal obtained from the imaging means matches the number of pixels of the image display means. Means for thinning out at a thinning rate and outputting to the image display means; and when switching to macro photography by the macro switch, all photography by the imaging means A predetermined partial image is cut out from the image, and the image signal indicating the cut out partial image is used as it is, or the horizontal and vertical pixels of the image signal of the partial image are thinned at a thinning rate smaller than the predetermined thinning rate. And an enlargement processing means for decimating and outputting the image to the image display means and displaying the cut-out partial image on the screen of the image display means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to the second aspect of the present invention, the electronic camera has a display switch for turning on and off the image display unit, and the image display unit is forcibly activated when the macro switch is switched to the macro photographing. It is characterized by being turned on.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when switching to macro photography by a macro switch, it is possible to enlarge and display a partial image cut out from all the photographed images by the imaging means, and focus state of an image actually taken by macro photography Can be confirmed with high accuracy.

According to the invention of claim 3 , when the macro switch is switched to the macro photography, the image display means is forcibly turned on even if the display switch for turning on / off the image display means is OFF. It is possible to perform manual focusing with high accuracy while viewing the image displayed on the image display means.

An electronic camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3 as shown in claim 4, while the image display means is enlarged the partial image displayed on said image display means in the larger image It is characterized by having a warning means for warning that there is something. Thereby, it is possible to recognize whether the image displayed by the image display means is a whole captured image or a partial image cut out from the entire captured image.

5. The electronic camera according to claim 4 , wherein the warning means causes the image display means to display an icon indicating that the display on the image display means is being enlarged. It is said.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to the fifth aspect , the icon is an icon indicating a magnifying glass.

  According to the present invention, a predetermined partial image is cut out from all captured images by the imaging unit, and the image signal indicating the cut out partial image is used as it is or the pixels in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the image signal of the partial image are set to normal. Since the image is thinned at a thinning rate smaller than the thinning (thinning to match the number of pixels of the image display means) and output to the image display means, the focus state of the image picked up by the solid-state imaging device having a large number of pixels is reduced. It can be confirmed by the display means, and manual focusing can be performed with high accuracy.

  A preferred embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention. This electronic camera is a digital camera that records a still image on a memory card 12 by operating a shutter release button 10 (see FIG. 2), and includes a liquid crystal monitor 14. The liquid crystal monitor 14 functions as an electronic viewfinder that can display a subject image during shooting, and functions as a monitor that displays a still image recorded in the memory card 12 during reproduction.

  When photographing with this digital camera (not only when recording a still image by fully pressing the release, but also when displaying a moving image on the liquid crystal monitor 14 when the release is half-pressed or when a movie is displayed), solid-state imaging is performed via the photographing lens 16. The subject image formed on the light receiving surface of the element (CCD) 18 is photoelectrically converted here and sequentially read out as a CCD signal and applied to the image signal processing circuit 20. Here, the CCD 18 having a larger number of pixels than the liquid crystal monitor 14 is used.

  The image signal processing circuit 20 includes a white balance adjustment circuit, a gamma correction circuit, and a YC processing circuit. The image data processed by these circuits is an image recording device 22, an autofocus device (AF device) 24, and a display range selection circuit. To 28. The image recording device 22 includes a compression circuit, a card interface, and the like. When the shutter release button 10 is operated, the YC signal (luminance signal Y and chroma signal C) is output from the YC processing circuit of the image signal processing circuit 20. The YC signal is received, and the compressed image data is recorded on the memory card 12 via the card interface.

  The AF device 24 becomes operable when the AF switch 26 is turned on, and performs contrast AF based on the luminance signal Y input from the image signal processing circuit 20. That is, the AF device 24 extracts a high frequency component of the luminance signal Y input from the image signal processing circuit 20, and obtains an evaluation value indicating the in-focus state of the photographing frame by integrating the high frequency component. Then, the photographing lens 16 is controlled so that the evaluation value becomes a maximum. The photographing lens 16 has a manual focus function, and when the AF switch 26 is turned off, it can be focused by manually operating a focus adjustment member such as a focus ring. It is like that.

  The display range selection circuit 28 normally outputs the image signal of the entire frame input from the image signal processing circuit 20 to the display circuit 30 as it is. On the other hand, when the enlargement switch 32 is turned on or the AF switch 26 is turned off. If it is, the operation becomes possible, and a predetermined partial image is cut out from the entire frame, and an image signal indicating the cut out partial image is output to the display circuit 30.

  The display circuit 30 displays an image on the entire screen of the liquid crystal monitor 14 based on the image signal input from the display range selection circuit 28. Therefore, when the release is half-pressed or during a movie, the subject image is displayed in real time or not in real time on the liquid crystal monitor 14 as a substantially continuous moving image. Can be decided.

  Next, when the image signal for the entire frame is output from the display range selection circuit 28, and when the partial image is cut out from the entire frame and the image signal indicating the cut out partial image is output. Will be described.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 2, when the subject 1 is photographed, the display range selection circuit 28 normally outputs the image signal for the entire frame to the display circuit 30 as described above. In this case, the number of pixels of the image signal input from the display range selection circuit 28 (the number of pixels of the CCD 18) is larger than the number of pixels of the liquid crystal monitor 14, so that the display circuit 30 matches the number of pixels of the liquid crystal monitor 14. The number of pixels in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the image signal input to is reduced (thinned out pixels at a predetermined rate) and output to the liquid crystal monitor 14.

  As a result, the liquid crystal monitor 14 displays an image of the entire frame being photographed as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the enlargement switch 32 is turned on, the display range selection circuit 28 cuts out a partial image from the entire frame and outputs an image signal indicating the cut out partial image to the display circuit 30. In this case, since the number of pixels of the image signal of the partial image input from the display range selection circuit 28 is reduced, the display circuit 30 uses the image signal of the partial image to be input as it is or the pixel thinning rate is higher than in a normal case. The output is reduced to the liquid crystal monitor 14.

  As a result, the partial image cut out from the entire frame being photographed is enlarged and displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, while the partial image is being enlarged and displayed, a warning is displayed that the display on the liquid crystal monitor 14 is being enlarged. In this embodiment, an icon 34 indicating a magnifying glass is displayed on the liquid crystal screen.

  As described above, when the enlargement switch 32 is turned on, the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14 is enlarged and displayed, so that the focus state of the actually captured image can be accurately confirmed. Since the number of pixels of the CCD 18 is larger than the number of pixels of the liquid crystal monitor 14, the number of pixels required for the liquid crystal monitor 14 can be sufficiently obtained even when a partial image cut out from the entire frame is enlarged and displayed. .

  Further, in this embodiment, when the AF switch 26 is turned off and manual focusing is performed by manually operating the focus adjustment member, the enlargement switch 32 is turned on even if it is turned off. Similarly, the partial image is enlarged and displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14. Thus, manual focusing can be performed with high accuracy while viewing the screen of the liquid crystal monitor displaying the partial image in an enlarged manner.

  As another embodiment of the present invention, a sensor such as a touch sensor for detecting whether or not the hand is touching the focus adjustment member of the photographing lens 16 is provided, and the hand touches the focus adjustment member by this sensor. During the detected period, the partial image may be enlarged and displayed on the liquid crystal monitor.

  Further, a macro switch for switching to macro shooting may be provided, and when switching to macro shooting by this macro switch, a partial image may be enlarged and displayed on the liquid crystal monitor.

  Further, a display switch for turning on / off the liquid crystal monitor may be provided, and when the macro switch is used to switch to the macro photography, the liquid crystal monitor is forcibly turned on, and the partial image is enlarged and displayed on the liquid crystal monitor. That is, when the LCD monitor is OFF, the optical viewfinder is used. However, since the parallax becomes large during macro photography, it is possible to force the LCD monitor to ON and focus while looking at the LCD monitor screen. it can.

  Furthermore, a touch panel for designating an enlargement area is provided on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 14, and when the enlargement area is designated by the touch panel, a partial image corresponding to the designated enlargement area is cut out, and the cut out partial image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor. May be enlarged and displayed. The autofocus device and the recording medium are not limited to those in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the digital camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is applicable to a video camera or the like as long as the number of pixels of the solid-state imaging device is larger than the number of pixels of the image display device. it can.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a photographing state with the electronic camera shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a view showing a display screen of the liquid crystal monitor of the electronic camera shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Subject, 10 ... Shutter release button, 12 ... Memory card, 14 ... Liquid crystal monitor 16 ... Shooting lens, 18 ... Solid-state image sensor (CCD), 20 ... Image signal processing circuit, 22 ... Image recording device, 24 ... Auto focus Device ... 26 AF switch 28 ... Display range selection circuit 30 ... Display circuit 32 ... Enlargement switch

Claims (6)

Imaging means for imaging image light indicating a subject on a light receiving surface of a solid-state image sensor, and converting the image light imaged on the light-receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor into an image signal;
Recording means for recording an image signal obtained by the imaging means;
Image display means for displaying an image having a smaller number of pixels than the number of pixels of the solid-state imaging device;
A manual focus function to focus by manually operating the focus adjustment member,
An autofocus function that automatically focuses,
A changeover switch for switching between the manual focus function and the autofocus function;
When the autofocus function is selected by the changeover switch, the horizontal and vertical directions of the image signal are adjusted so that the number of pixels of the image signal obtained from the image pickup means matches the number of pixels of the image display means. Means for thinning out the pixels at a predetermined thinning rate and outputting to the image display means;
When the manual focus function is selected by the changeover switch, a predetermined partial image is cut out from all the images taken by the imaging unit, and an image signal indicating the cut out partial image is left as it is or an image signal of the partial image The horizontal and vertical pixels are thinned at a thinning rate smaller than the predetermined thinning rate and output to the image display means, and the cut-out partial image is enlarged and displayed on the screen of the image display means Means,
Wherein a display switch for turning ON / OFF the image display means, wherein when the manual focus function by the changeover switch is selected, you characterized electronic camera that forcibly ON the image display means. Imaging means for imaging image light indicating a subject on a light receiving surface of a solid-state image sensor, and converting the image light imaged on the light-receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor into an image signal;
Recording means for recording an image signal obtained by the imaging means;
Image display means for displaying an image having a smaller number of pixels than the number of pixels of the solid-state imaging device;
A macro switch to switch to macro shooting,
When the macro switch is not switched to the macro photography, the horizontal and vertical pixels of the image signal are set so that the number of pixels of the image signal obtained from the image pickup means matches the number of pixels of the image display means. Means for thinning out the image at a predetermined rate and outputting it to the image display means;
When switching to macro shooting by the macro switch, a predetermined partial image is cut out from all the shot images by the imaging unit, and an image signal indicating the cut-out partial image is left as it is, or the image signal of the partial image is horizontal. Magnification processing means for thinning out pixels in the direction and vertical direction at a thinning rate smaller than the predetermined thinning rate and outputting the thinned-out partial image on the screen of the image display means. ,
An electronic camera characterized by comprising: 3. The electronic camera according to claim 2 , further comprising a display switch for turning on and off the image display means, and forcibly turning on the image display means when the macro switch is switched to macro photography. While the image display means is enlarged the partial image, any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has a warning means for displaying on said image display means to warn that the expanding display Electronic camera as described in. 5. The electronic camera according to claim 4 , wherein the warning means causes the image display means to display an icon indicating that the display on the image display means is being enlarged. The electronic camera according to claim 5 , wherein the icon is an icon indicating a magnifying glass.

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