JP4309524B2 - Electronic camera device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention particularly relates to an electronic camera device having a moving image shooting function and a still image shooting function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, an electronic camera that converts a subject into image data using an electronic imaging function and records the image data on a recording medium has become widespread. The electronic camera includes a digital video camera whose main function is moving image shooting, in addition to an electronic still camera called a digital camera.
[0003]
By the way, recent electronic cameras have been developed with both a still image shooting function and a moving image shooting function. A specific example is an electronic camera having the components shown in FIG. 3 (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-108121).
[0004]
In this electronic camera, an imaging unit 1 including a lens, an imaging element such as a CCD, and an A / D converter is provided, and digital image data (hereinafter simply referred to as image data) obtained from the imaging unit 1 is a buffer unit. 2 to the still image recording unit 3. On the other hand, the image data is sent to the moving image recording unit 5 through a process in which the pixel density is reduced by the pixel density conversion unit 4. The still image recording unit 3 executes image processing such as image compression using the image data as a still image, and records the image data on a recording medium 6 such as a memory card. In addition, the moving image recording unit 5 performs image processing using image data with reduced pixel density (image data having a smaller number of pixels than a still image) as a moving image, and records the image processing on the recording medium 6.
[0005]
Here, when a still image shooting instruction (instruction signal S) is given during the moving image shooting operation, the image data at the time of still image shooting obtained from the imaging unit 1 is temporarily stored in the buffer unit 2. Then, after the moving image recording operation by the moving image recording unit 5 is completed (completion signal E), the still image recording unit 3 processes the image data stored in the buffer unit 2 as a still image and records it on the recording medium 6. To do.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, if the electronic camera has both a still image shooting function and a moving image shooting function, the user can take a still image (so-called photo shooting) if there is a shutter chance during moving image shooting. However, still image shooting and moving image shooting are not only different in resolution (pixel density) but also in so-called shooting conditions.
[0007]
In other words, in still image shooting, it is possible not only to capture images at high resolution, but also to capture the desired photo (still image) by appropriately setting the shooting conditions such as the lens aperture state and shutter speed. It becomes. In other words, when still image shooting is executed in a state where the moving image shooting mode is maintained, it is desirable to reset (change) the shooting conditions from the shooting conditions at the time of moving image shooting to the shooting conditions for still image shooting.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera device capable of resetting shooting conditions during moving image shooting and realizing still image shooting under appropriate shooting conditions.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to an electronic camera device having a moving image shooting function and a still image shooting function, a moving image shooting means for executing a moving image shooting operation under predetermined shooting conditions, an instruction means for instructing still image shooting, and a still image shooting time A setting unit that can arbitrarily set a shooting condition related to at least one of a shutter speed and an aperture value, and a setting unit that executes a still image shooting operation during the moving image shooting operation by the instruction unit. in set photographing condition is an electronic camera apparatus and a still image capturing means for performing the still image shooting operation.
[0010]
The shooting conditions for still image shooting are specifically related to the shutter speed and the aperture value of the lens. Also included is a light emission operation using a strobe. The still image shooting means executes a still image shooting operation under the shooting conditions during the moving image shooting operation when an arbitrary shooting condition is not set by the setting means.
[0011]
With such a configuration, the user can execute still image shooting under a preset shooting condition if there is a photo opportunity during the moving image shooting operation. Therefore, it is possible to record a still image (photograph) of high quality or quality assumed by the user, which cannot be obtained under moving image shooting conditions.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
(Configuration of electronic camera)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of the electronic camera related to the embodiment. The electronic camera of the embodiment is assumed to be an electronic still camera (digital camera) having a still image shooting function as a main function and a moving image shooting function. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a digital video camera having a moving image shooting function as a main function and also having a still image shooting function.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic camera of the embodiment is roughly composed of a recording system having a photographing system 10, an image processing unit 11, a system controller 12, a display system 13, an input operation system 14, and a recording medium 15. ing. In addition to this, there is an output system for outputting image data to the outside, but the description thereof is omitted in this embodiment.
[0015]
First, the imaging system 10 includes a lens 100, a diaphragm unit 101, a shutter 102, an image sensor 103, and an A / D converter 104. The image sensor 103 is usually a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor with millions of pixels, and photoelectrically converts a subject image incident through the lens 100. The lens 100 is configured to be driven by a focus (zoom) by an autofocus (A / F) mechanism 105. The diaphragm unit 101 and the shutter 102 are controlled by the system controller 12 as will be described later. In the moving image shooting mode, the A / F, aperture value, and shutter speed (shutter time) are automatically set. Further, in the still image shooting mode of the embodiment, as described later, manual setting is possible along with automatic setting.
[0016]
The imaging circuit 103b performs CDS (correlated double sampling) and AGC (automatic gain adjustment) processing on the image signal obtained by photoelectric conversion in the imaging element 103.
[0017]
The A / D converter 104 converts the image signal (analog signal corresponding to the number of pixels) obtained from the imaging circuit 103 b into a digital signal (image data) and sends it to the image processing unit 11. Actually, the image signal obtained from the image sensor 103 is subjected to various signal processing such as gamma correction and white balance adjustment.
[0018]
Further, the photographing system 10 includes a strobe device 106. The strobe device 106 includes a light emitting unit 106A, a photometric sensor 106B, and a strobe control circuit 106C. The photometric sensor 106B measures the pre-emission from the light emitting unit 106A in order to determine the amount of main light emitted from the light emitting unit 106A during photographing. The photometric sensor 106B sends the photometric result to the strobe determining unit 123 of the system controller 12 via the strobe control circuit 106C. The strobe determining unit 123 determines the amount of light from the light emitting unit 106A when using the strobe based on the photometric result, and sends it to the strobe control circuit 106C. The strobe control circuit 106C controls the photometric sensor 106B and controls the light emitting unit 106A according to the determination result from the strobe determining unit 123.
[0019]
Specifically, the image processing unit 11 includes an image processing CPU (microprocessor) and a memory that stores a control program thereof. The moving image processing unit 110, the still image processing unit 111, and the thinning unit 112 illustrated in FIG. 1 are functional elements by the CPU. The buffer memory 113 is also called a frame memory, and stores image data for one screen, for example.
[0020]
The moving image processing unit 110 functions in the moving image shooting mode, performs image compression processing (for example, motion JPEG compression) on image data (for example, several hundred thousand pixels) whose pixel density has been reduced by the thinning unit 112, and continuously A simple file (video data) is recorded on the recording medium 15. In addition, the moving image processing unit 110 sends the video data to the EVF display control unit 130 of the display system 13. Note that the moving image processing unit 110 also executes image expansion processing during reproduction.
[0021]
The still image processing unit 111 performs various processes such as an image compression process and an image expansion process for obtaining a still image on the image data (million pixels that are not thinned out) output from the A / D converter 104. And temporarily stored in the buffer memory 113. Here, when the moving image shooting mode is maintained, the still image processing unit 111 records the still image data stored in the buffer memory 113 on the recording medium 15 after the moving image shooting operation ends.
[0022]
The system controller 12 includes a control CPU (microprocessor) and a memory storing its control program. The moving image / still image switching unit 120, the aperture / shutter setting unit 121, and the A / F control unit shown in FIG. 122 and the functional elements of the strobe determining unit 123 are executed. As will be described later, the system controller 12 receives various inputs from the input operation system 14 and executes various control operations.
[0023]
The moving image / still image switching unit 120 includes a still image processing unit 111 and a moving image processing unit according to operation inputs of the still image release (shutter) button 140 and the moving image start / stop (S / S) button 141 of the input operation system 14. The operation of 110 is controlled. That is, the moving image shooting operation is started or stopped according to the operation input of the moving image S / S button 141. Further, a still image shooting operation is executed in response to an operation input of the still image release button 140. In the embodiment, the still image shooting operation can be executed regardless of the moving image shooting operation. However, the moving image shooting operation is interrupted when moving image shooting is in progress, and the moving image shooting operation is resumed after the still image shooting operation is completed. Even in the case of interruption of the moving image shooting operation, the moving image processing unit 110 functions and supplies continuous image data (video data) to the display system 13.
[0024]
The A / F control unit 122 performs control so that the lens 100 is fixed at the immediately preceding focus position when the still image shooting operation is executed in the moving image shooting mode. Normally, during the moving image shooting operation, the lens 100 is always A / F driven. Therefore, it is desirable to fix the focus position of the lens 100 during the still image shooting operation.
[0025]
As described above, the strobe determining unit 123 determines the amount of light from the light emitting unit 106A when using the strobe based on the photometric result sent from the photometric sensor 106B via the strobe control circuit 106C during still image shooting. A command accompanying this is sent to the strobe control circuit 106C. Further, the strobe determining unit 123 receives an input from the strobe mode setting button 145 of the input operation system 14 and executes a strobe mode according to this input. However, in the moving image shooting operation, the flash function is not executed regardless of the flash setting.
[0026]
The strobe mode setting button 145 can selectively set three modes: strobe unusable, strobe use, and strobe use automatic determination. During normal still image shooting, the strobe auto-determination mode is standard.
[0027]
The aperture / shutter setting unit 121 has a function of performing aperture shutter control in moving image shooting and still image shooting. Specifically, the aperture / shutter setting unit 121 controls the aperture unit 101 and the shutter 102 of the imaging system 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the aperture / shutter setting unit 121 has functions of a program mode unit 121A, a shutter speed priority mode unit 121B, an aperture priority mode unit 121C, and a full manual mode unit 121D. Each of the functional units 121A to 121D selectively operates according to the operation of the still image mode input button 144 of the input operation system 14. By operating the still image mode input button 144, the aperture / shutter setting unit 121 can accept shooting conditions for still image shooting during the moving image shooting operation.
[0028]
The program mode unit 121A is a function of automatically setting an aperture value and a shutter speed suitable for moving image shooting and still image shooting, and calculates an aperture value and a shutter speed according to each optimum algorithm.
[0029]
The shutter speed priority mode unit 121B preferentially sets the shutter speed as a shooting condition for still image shooting, and calculates an aperture value based on this set value. The shutter speed priority mode unit 121B receives a shutter speed setting value from the shutter speed input unit 143 of the input operation system 14. When the still image shooting operation is turned on by the mode unit 121B in response to an operation input of the still image release button 140, the aperture / shutter setting unit 121 sets the still image based on the shooting conditions that prioritize the shutter speed setting value. The diaphragm 101 and the shutter 102 are controlled in photographing.
[0030]
On the other hand, the aperture priority mode unit 121C preferentially sets an aperture value as a shooting condition for still image shooting, and calculates a shutter speed based on the set value. The aperture priority mode unit 121 </ b> C receives the aperture setting value from the aperture value input unit 142 of the input operation system 14. When the still image shooting operation is turned on by the mode unit 121C in response to an operation input of the still image release button 140, the aperture / shutter setting unit 121 captures a still image based on a shooting condition that prioritizes the aperture setting value. The diaphragm unit 101 and the shutter 102 are controlled.
[0031]
The full manual mode unit 121D functions when performing still image shooting by adjusting the aperture and shutter in full manual. That is, the full manual mode unit 121D receives the aperture setting value from the aperture value input unit 142 and receives the shutter speed setting value from the shutter speed input unit 143. Based on these setting values, the diaphragm unit 101 and the shutter 102 in still image shooting are controlled.
[0032]
The display system 13 includes an EVF (Electro-view finder) display control unit 130 and a finder 131 that is a liquid crystal monitor. The EVF display control unit 130 inputs video data from the moving image processing unit 110 and causes the viewfinder 131 to display the video data. Further, the EVF display control unit 130 inputs a mode type, a set aperture value, a set shutter speed, and the like from the aperture / shutter setting unit 121 and causes the viewfinder 131 to display them.
[0033]
The recording medium 15 is a replaceable recording medium such as a memory card (for example, an IC memory on which a flash EEPROM is mounted), a magneto-optical disk, a magnetic disk (floppy disk or hard disk), or the like.
[0034]
(Movie shooting operation and still image shooting operation)
Hereinafter, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5 together with FIG. 1, the photographing operation of the embodiment will be described. The embodiment relates to a still image shooting operation during moving image shooting. When setting the shooting conditions for still image shooting in accordance with the operation input of the still image mode input button 144, the setting can be performed either during moving image shooting or before shooting. In the setting before moving image shooting, the aperture / shutter setting unit 121 stores setting values (aperture value and shutter speed) indicating shooting conditions for still image shooting in a memory (not shown) and responds to the operation of the still image release button 140. To retrieve the set value from the memory.
[0035]
When the moving image start button 141 is operated by the user, the system controller 12 starts moving image shooting operation based on the automatic shooting condition for moving images by the program mode function (121A) (YES in step S1, S2). Specifically, as described above, the moving image / still image switching unit 120 causes the moving image processing unit 110 of the image processing unit 11 to function, and the image data obtained by the imaging system 10 is reduced in pixel density by the thinning unit 112. Reduce and execute various image processing. And it records on the recording medium 15 as a continuous file (video data). In addition, the moving image processing unit 110 sends the video data to the EVF display control unit 130 of the display system 13 and causes the finder 131 to display the video data.
[0036]
When the still image release button 140 is operated for still image shooting during the moving image shooting, the system controller 12 interrupts the moving image shooting operation and shifts to the still image shooting operation (YES in step S4). However, the moving image processing unit 110 continues the process of sending the video data to the display system 13.
[0037]
When the aperture / shutter setting unit 121 does not accept the operation input of the still image mode input button 144, the system controller 12 is based on the moving image automatic shooting conditions except for the strobe control and A / F control described later. A still image shooting operation is executed (NO in step S5). Specifically, the moving image / still image switching unit 120 causes the still image processing unit 111 of the image processing unit 11 to function, and causes the strobe determination unit 123 and the A / F control unit 122 to function.
[0038]
The A / F control unit 122 performs control so that the A / F position of the lens 100 is fixed. Further, the strobe determining unit 123 determines the amount of light from the light emitting unit 106A when using the strobe based on the photometric result sent from the photometric sensor 106B via the strobe control circuit 106C, and controls the command accompanying this strobe control. Send to circuit 106C. At this time, the strobe determining unit 123 accepts input from the strobe mode setting button 145 of the input operation system 14, and the strobe mode according to this input (any one of the three modes of strobe unusable, strobe use, and strobe use automatic determination). May be executed (step S6). The still image processing unit 111 performs various processes such as an image compression process and an image expansion process for obtaining a still image on the image data (million pixels that are not thinned out) output from the A / D converter 104. And temporarily stored in the buffer memory 113 (step S7). At this time, since the moving image shooting mode is maintained, the still image data stored in the buffer memory 113 is recorded on the recording medium 15 after the moving image shooting operation ends.
[0039]
On the other hand, when the aperture / shutter setting unit 121 accepts an operation input of the still image mode input button 144, a still image shooting operation by a manual operation is executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 (in step S5). YES).
[0040]
That is, the aperture / shutter setting unit 121 of the system controller 12 responds to an operation input of the still image mode input button 144 of the input operation system 14 with a program mode unit 121A, a shutter speed priority mode unit 121B, an aperture priority mode unit 121C, The full manual mode unit 121D is selectively made to function (steps S10 to S13).
[0041]
Specifically, when the shutter speed priority mode (121B) is selected, a shutter speed setting value is preferentially set as a shooting condition for still image shooting from the shutter speed input unit 143, and this setting value is used as a reference. An aperture value is set (steps S10 and S14). When the aperture priority mode (121C) is selected, the aperture setting value is preferentially set from the aperture value input unit 142 as a shooting condition for still image shooting, and the shutter speed is set based on this setting value. (Steps S11 and S15). When the full manual mode (121D) is selected, the aperture setting value is set from the aperture value input unit 142 and the shutter speed setting value from the shutter speed input unit 143 is set (step S12). Further, when the program mode (121A) is selected, an aperture value and a shutter speed suitable for still image shooting are automatically set (step S13).
[0042]
As described above, the aperture / shutter setting unit 121 controls the aperture unit 101 and the shutter 102 based on the shooting conditions for still image shooting set by the operation input of the still image mode input button 144. Further, the moving image / still image switching unit 120 causes the still image processing unit 111 of the image processing unit 11 to function as well as the strobe determination unit 123 and the A / F control unit 122 as in the above-described still image shooting operation. Then, still image shooting is executed (steps S16 and S17).
[0043]
Thereby, the user can perform still image shooting under desired shooting conditions different from the moving image shooting conditions at the time of a shutter chance during moving image shooting. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a still image having the image quality desired by the user from the image quality of the still image based on the moving image shooting conditions. Of course, still image shooting can be performed while maintaining moving image shooting conditions.
[0044]
(Modification)
As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic camera of the embodiment includes an image sensor 103 that is used for both moving image shooting and still image shooting as a shooting system 10. As a modification of the same embodiment, even in an imaging system having an imaging device for moving image shooting (for example, about several hundred thousand pixels) and an imaging device for still image shooting (for example, about several million pixels), respectively. Good. If the electronic camera has such a photographing system, the image processing unit 11 can obtain an effect that the thinning unit 112 can be omitted.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in an electronic camera equipped with both a still image shooting function and a moving image shooting function, when still image shooting is performed during moving image shooting, the still image is shot from the shooting conditions for moving image shooting. The shooting conditions for image shooting can be reset. In this case, the user can arbitrarily set a desired condition within a predetermined range as a shooting condition for still image shooting. Accordingly, still image shooting under appropriate shooting conditions can be realized during moving image shooting.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an electronic camera related to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing a partial configuration of a system controller of the electronic camera according to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of a conventional electronic camera.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the electronic camera related to the embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the electronic camera related to the embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Shooting system 11 ... Image processing part 12 ... System controller 13 ... Display system 14 ... Input operation system 15 ... Recording medium 100 ... Lens 101 ... Aperture part 102 ... Shutter 103 ... Image sensor 104 ... A / D converter 105 ... Auto focus (A / F) mechanism 106 ... strobe device 110 ... moving image processing unit 111 ... still image processing unit 112 ... thinning-out unit 113 ... buffer memory 120 ... moving image / still image switching unit 121 ... aperture / shutter setting unit 122 ... A / F Control unit 123 ... Strobe determination unit 130 ... EVF display control unit 131 ... Viewfinder 140 ... Still image release button 141 ... Movie start / stop (S / S) button 142 ... Aperture value input unit 143 ... Shutter speed input unit 144 ... Still image Mode input button 145 ... Strobe mode setting button

Claims (3)

An electronic camera device having a video shooting function and a still image shooting function,
Movie shooting means for executing a movie shooting operation under predetermined shooting conditions;
Instruction means for instructing still image shooting;
Setting means that can arbitrarily set shooting conditions related to at least one of shutter speed and aperture value in shooting conditions during still image shooting;
And a still image shooting unit that executes the still image shooting operation under the shooting conditions set by the setting unit when the instruction unit executes the still image shooting operation during the moving image shooting operation. Electronic camera device. The electronic camera apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the setting unit can further arbitrarily set whether or not to operate the strobe device. The electronic camera device according to claim 1 , further comprising means for controlling an autofocus mechanism so as not to operate autofocus during the still image shooting operation.

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