JP4323063B2 - Electronic camera device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic camera device having a moving image shooting function with audio recording.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, an electronic camera (also called a digital 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. An electronic camera has a main function of still image shooting. Recently, an electronic camera having a moving image shooting function and a moving image shooting function with sound recording has been developed.
[0003]
Conventionally, video shooting with audio recording is a main function of a video camera (movie). In moving image shooting with audio recording, when a lens (AF lens) is driven for AF (automatic focus adjustment or focusing operation) during audio recording, the driving sound of the lens may be recorded as noise. . Since the video camera has a relatively large entire housing and a structure that can secure a sufficient distance between the lens unit and the audio microphone, the driving sound of the lens does not matter so much.
[0004]
However, since the case of the electronic camera is smaller than that of the video camera, the lens unit (lens barrel) and the sound microphone are arranged close to each other. Therefore, when moving image shooting accompanying voice recording is executed, the driving sound of the motor driving the AF lens and its transmission mechanism is recorded simultaneously with the voice.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In an electronic camera having a moving image shooting function with audio recording, when an AF operation is executed during audio recording, there is a disadvantage that noise such as lens driving sound is recorded as noise along with the audio. For this reason, when performing moving image shooting with audio recording, the AF operation is executed only once immediately before moving image shooting, and the AF operation is prohibited during moving image shooting after the start of shooting. However, even during moving image shooting, if the distance to the subject changes greatly, a blurred image will be shot, and the moving image shooting performance will deteriorate.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera device capable of minimizing audio recording noise related to AF operation and preventing so-called out-of-focus movie shooting during movie shooting involving voice recording. is there.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention prohibits the AF operation that is automatically executed during moving image shooting with audio recording, suppresses the lens driving sound that accompanies the AF operation from being recorded as noise, and when necessary during moving image shooting. The present invention relates to an electronic camera device capable of executing an AF operation and preventing a focus shift exceeding an allowable range.
[0008]
That is, the electronic camera apparatus focuses an electronic imaging unit that converts a subject image captured by an imaging element into image data, a moving image capturing unit that performs a moving image capturing operation, and a subject image that is imaged on the imaging element. A focusing means for instructing execution of the focusing means from a photographer, and a focusing control means for controlling the focusing means, wherein the focusing control means includes the moving image When the shooting unit is in a moving image shooting without sound recording, the focusing unit is operated regardless of the instruction from the focusing instruction unit when the in-focus amount is out of the allowable range. controlled, wherein the moving image shooting means shooting video with audio recording, in before the start of the movie shooting by the moving image shooting means by operating the focusing means, at the time of execution of the moving image shooting according to the instruction by the focusing instruction means The focusing means And it controls to operate.
[0009]
The focusing instruction means is a means (for example, a release button or a dedicated button) for executing a focusing operation (AF operation) in response to a first operation for instructing a shooting preparation operation (preliminary shooting operation) immediately before the start of shooting. This corresponds to manual means. The focusing control unit prohibits the automatic focusing operation (AF operation) from being executed after the start of moving image shooting, and executes the focusing operation (AF operation) only when instructed by the focusing instruction unit. .
[0010]
With such a configuration, after the AF operation is performed before moving image shooting, the AF operation is not automatically performed. Therefore, the lens driving sound accompanying the AF operation is recorded as noise during sound recording. Can be suppressed. On the other hand, when the distance to the subject changes greatly, the AF operation can be executed, so that it is possible to prevent a situation where a blurred image is shot. In short, the recording of audio noise during moving image shooting can be minimized, and the AF operation can be executed as necessary, so that the deterioration of moving image quality can be prevented.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
(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 is assumed to be an electronic still camera (or digital camera) whose main function is still image shooting. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic camera is roughly composed of a photographing system 1, an image processing system 2, a control / operation system 3, a display / output system 4, and an audio recording system 5.
[0013]
The photographing system 1 includes an optical lens unit (including a zoom lens, a diaphragm, an autofocus (AF) lens, etc.) 10, an image sensor 11, an image pickup circuit 12, a lens drive motor 13, and a lens control unit (driver). 14.
[0014]
The image sensor 11 usually has a charge coupled device (CCD) of several million pixels, and photoelectrically converts a subject image incident through the optical lens unit 10. The imaging circuit 12 inputs an imaging signal from the imaging device 11 and performs various signal processing such as AGC (automatic gain adjustment) processing, CDS (correlated double sampling) processing, and A / D conversion processing. The imaging circuit 12 generates image data composed of digital signals corresponding to the photographed subject.
[0015]
The image processing system 2 is normally composed of an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and generates a captured image obtained by image compression processing from image data obtained from the imaging circuit 12 and display data. The image processing system 2 includes a first SRAM (static RAM) 20A, a digital signal processor (DSP) 21, an AF (automatic focus adjustment) circuit 22, a JPEG image compression / decompression circuit 23, and an AE (automatic). Exposure control) circuit 24.
[0016]
The first SRAM 20A is a memory for temporarily storing image data output from the imaging circuit 12. The DSP 21 executes predetermined digital signal processing (image processing) and controls the AF circuit 22 and the AE circuit 24. The AF circuit 22 has a function of changing between a still image AF operation with a narrow AF area and a moving image AF operation with a wide AF area. The DSP 21 controls an AWB (automatic white balance) circuit (not shown) in addition to the AF circuit 22 and the AE circuit 24. The image compression / decompression circuit 23 executes JPEG image compression and image decompression on the image data obtained by the photographing operation.
[0017]
The image processing system 2 further includes an image mixing circuit 25, an encoder 26, an LCD interface 27, and D / A converters 28A to 28C. The image mixing circuit 25 mixes and outputs display data (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, to a through image output from the SRAM 20A for monitoring or a reproduced image read from the memory card 31 during reproduction. The encoder 26 generates digital code data of digital luminance data (Y data) and digital color data (C data) from the image data (through image or reproduced image) output from the image mixing circuit 25. The image D / A converter 28B converts the output from the encoder 25 into an analog luminance signal (Y signal) and an analog color signal (C signal), and outputs them to the display output system 4. The LCD interface 27 outputs image data (through image or reproduced image) output from the image mixing circuit 25 to the LCD driver 42 of the display / output system 4.
[0018]
The display / output system 4 includes an LCD (liquid crystal display) driver 42, an LCD monitor 43, a YCMIX circuit 44, a video driver 45, a video output terminal 46, an audio output amplifier circuit 41 related to the audio recording system 5 described later, and an audio output. A terminal 40 is provided.
[0019]
The LCD driver 42 performs predetermined signal processing (γ processing or the like) on the Y and C signals output from the LCD D / A converter 28A and outputs the signals to the LCD monitor 43. The LCD monitor 43 displays a through image at the time of shooting and a reproduced image recorded on the memory card 31. The YCMIX circuit 44 generates a YCMIX signal (mixed signal of the luminance signal Y and the color signal C) from the analog signal output from the image D / A converter 28B. The video driver 45 has a function of converting the YCMIX signal into an NTSC signal (NTSC standard video signal), and outputs it to the video output terminal 46. The video output terminal 46 is an external output terminal for sending a video signal such as an NTSC signal to an external monitor such as a television apparatus.
[0020]
Here, the audio recording system 5 includes an audio microphone 50, a microphone amplifier circuit (including an AGC circuit) 51, and an A / D converter 52. The A / D converter 52 converts the audio analog signal amplified by the microphone amplifier circuit 51 into an audio digital signal, and outputs the audio digital signal to the second SRAM 20B included in the image processing system 2.
[0021]
The PCM modulator 29 performs digital recording or reproduction processing on the audio digital signal stored in the second SRAM 20B. At the time of digital recording, voice digital data is recorded in the SDRAM 30 or the memory card 31 of the control / operation system 3. At the time of audio reproduction, audio digital data read from the SDRAM 30 or the memory card 31 is temporarily stored in the second SRAM 20B and output to the audio D / A converter 28C. The audio D / A converter 28C converts the audio digital data into an audio analog signal and sends the audio analog signal to the audio output amplifier circuit 41 included in the display / output system 4.
[0022]
The control / operation system 3 includes an SDRAM (synchronous DRAM) 30, a memory card 31, a main CPU 32, a sub CPU 33, a flash memory 34, an operation unit 35, and a mode LCD 36. The SDRAM 30 is a work memory (temporary storage memory) necessary for image processing (including audio recording processing). The memory card 31 is a detachable recording medium for storing a photographed image (image compressed image data), and includes, for example, a flash EEPROM. The memory card 31 may be a detachable magneto-optical disk (MO) or an ultra-small card-type hard disk drive. The flash memory 34 is a program memory that stores programs necessary for the operations of the main CPU 32 and the sub CPU 33.
[0023]
The main CPU 32 and the sub CPU 33 are microprocessors that function as a system controller of the camera body. The main CPU 32 is composed of, for example, a RISC microprocessor, and controls the entire camera (including image processing control, digital zoom control, color temperature conversion processing, etc.), and processing for determining an in-focus state related to the embodiment. Execute. Specifically, the main CPU 32 determines whether or not the in-focus amount is outside the allowable range based on the contrast detection value obtained from the AF circuit 22.
[0024]
The sub CPU 33 is composed of, for example, a 4-bit microprocessor, and receives control instructions input from the operation unit 35 and transmits them to the main CPU 32, or executes control for displaying mode information necessary for camera operation on the mode LCD 36. To do. Further, the sub CPU 33 controls the operation of the lens driving motor 13 (that is, the focusing operation) via the lens control unit 14 in response to an operation instruction from the operation unit 35 or an instruction from the main CPU 32. The operation unit 35 includes a group of operation switches such as operation buttons, dials, and keys necessary for the operation of the camera. Specifically, a mode dial, a release button, a power switch, a menu switch, an instruction cross key, and the like are provided. The control / operation system 3 and the image processing system 2 execute various data and address transfers via the data signal line 60 and the address signal line 61.
[0025]
(Still image shooting operation)
The electronic camera of the embodiment has a moving image shooting mode with audio recording and a moving image shooting mode without audio recording related to the embodiment in addition to the normal still image shooting mode and the playback mode. First, the shooting operation in the normal still image shooting mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 together with FIG.
[0026]
The camera body is turned on (powered on), and the still image shooting mode is set by the mode dial of the operation unit 35. In this mode, when the first operation (half-press operation) of the release button of the operation unit 35 is performed, the main CPU 32 executes a shooting preparation operation (preliminary shooting operation) (YES in step S30). As this photographing preparation operation, an AE operation by the AE circuit 24 and an AF operation by the AF circuit 22 are executed (steps S31 and S32). Here, in the still image shooting mode, an AF operation with a narrow AF area is executed. This shooting preparation operation fixes so-called focus and exposure.
[0027]
Next, when the second operation (push-out operation) of the release button is performed, the main CPU 32 executes a still image shooting operation that is the main shooting (YES in step S33, S34). That is, the image data obtained by photographing the subject obtained by the photographing system 1 is subjected to various processes by the image processing system 2 and recorded as compressed data in the memory card 31. During shooting, a through image of the subject is displayed on the LCD monitor 43.
[0028]
(Movie shooting operation)
Next, the moving image shooting mode is set by the mode dial of the operation unit 35. The moving image shooting mode includes a moving image shooting mode with sound recording (audio moving image mode) and a moving image shooting mode without sound recording (no sound moving image mode). With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the audio / video mode of the embodiment will be described.
[0029]
When the audio / video mode is set by the mode dial of the operation unit 35, the main CPU 32 enters a mode for executing the video recording operation simultaneously with the audio recording (YES in step S1). First, when the first operation (half-pressing operation) of the release button of the operation unit 35 is performed, the main CPU 32 executes the shooting preparation operation (preliminary shooting operation) as described above (YES in step S2). As this photographing preparation operation, an AE operation by the AE circuit 24 and an AF operation (including AF lens drive control) by the AF circuit 22 are executed (steps S3 and S4). Here, in the moving image shooting mode, a moving image AF operation with a wide AF area is executed. This shooting preparation operation fixes so-called focus and exposure.
[0030]
Next, when the second operation (push-out operation) of the release button is performed, the main CPU 32 starts the moving image shooting operation which is the main shooting (YES in step S5, S6). Here, the main CPU 32 executes a process of determining the out-of-focus state in parallel with the moving image shooting based on the contrast detection value obtained from the AF circuit 22 (step S7). That is, it is determined whether or not the amount of focus deviation is outside the allowable range.
[0031]
At the start of moving image shooting, as shown in FIG. 5A, a through image 500 of the subject is displayed on the LCD monitor 43 and information indicating shooting conditions is displayed. Display information includes information 501 indicating moving image shooting, information 502 indicating voice recording, AF information 503, and information 504 indicating shutter speed.
[0032]
The main CPU 32 determines an out-of-focus state (out-of-focus) during moving image shooting, and when the amount of out-of-focus is outside the allowable range, a specific display corresponding to the amount of out-of-focus is displayed on the LCD monitor 43. Perform (step S8). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5B, for example, a specific mark 505 </ b> A when a slight focus shift occurs is displayed on the LCD monitor 43. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, a specific mark 505B when a relatively large focus shift occurs is displayed on the LCD monitor 43.
[0033]
In such a display state on the LCD monitor 43, when the photographer performs the first operation (half-pressing operation) of the release button again, the main CPU 32 executes the aforementioned moving image AF operation (Step S9). YES, S10). With this moving image AF operation, as shown in FIG. 5D, the moving image shooting is continued as it is with the focus deviation eliminated (NO in step S11). When the second operation (push-off operation) of the release button is performed by the photographer, the main CPU 32 ends the moving image shooting operation (YES in step S11).
[0034]
On the other hand, the case where the moving image mode without sound is set by the mode dial of the operation unit 35 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0035]
First, the procedure from the shooting preparation operation (preliminary shooting operation) to the start of shooting is the same as that in the above-described audio moving image mode although there is no audio recording operation. That is, when the first operation (half-press operation) of the release button of the operation unit 35 is performed, the main CPU 32 executes a pre-shooting preparation operation (preliminary shooting operation) (YES in step S20). As this photographing preparation operation, an AE operation by the AE circuit 24 and a moving image AF operation (including AF lens drive control) by the AF circuit 22 are executed (steps S21 and S22). Next, when the second operation (push-out operation) of the release button is performed, the main CPU 32 starts the moving image shooting operation that is the main shooting (YES in step S23, S24).
[0036]
Here, as in the case of the audio moving image mode, the main CPU 32 executes a process of determining the out-of-focus state in parallel with the moving image shooting based on the contrast detection value obtained from the AF circuit 22 (step S25). ). However, unlike the case of the audio moving image mode, the main CPU 32 automatically executes the moving image AF operation when the in-focus amount (out of focus) is outside the allowable range (YES in step S26, S27). . Therefore, when a focus shift occurs during moving image shooting, the focus shift is automatically resolved and moving image shooting is continued (NO in step S28). When the second operation (push-off operation) of the release button is performed by the photographer, the main CPU 32 ends the moving image shooting operation (YES in step S28).
[0037]
As described above, in the audio moving image mode of the embodiment, after the moving image AF operation is executed during the shooting preparation operation (preliminary shooting operation) and the moving image shooting is started, the first operation of the release button ( That is, when there is no AF instruction operation), the moving image AF operation is not executed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the lens driving sound accompanying the AF operation is mixed as noise during sound recording during moving image shooting.
[0038]
On the other hand, since the photographer can execute the moving image AF operation as necessary by the first operation (AF instruction operation) of the release button during moving image shooting, for example, when the distance to the subject has changed greatly, The deviation can be eliminated. Therefore, this is effective when it is desired to prioritize the shooting image quality of the moving image over the sound quality. In this case, since the out-of-focus state (out-of-focus) during movie shooting is determined, and the amount of out-of-focus (out-of-focus) in tolerance is displayed on the LCD monitor 43, the photographer can There is also an effect that it is possible to easily determine the timing for executing the moving image AF operation.
[0039]
In the embodiment, the method of re-executing the first operation of the release button as an instruction for the moving image AF operation during moving image shooting in the audio moving image mode has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, a dedicated instruction button may be provided on the operation unit 35 and the moving image AF operation during moving image shooting may be executed only when the dedicated instruction button is operated.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, after performing an AF operation before moving image shooting during moving image shooting with sound recording, the AF operation is not automatically performed. It is possible to suppress the voice recording of the lens driving sound accompanying the noise as noise. On the other hand, when the distance to the subject changes greatly, the AF operation can be executed, so that it is possible to prevent a situation where a blurred image is shot. In short, recording of audio noise during movie shooting can be suppressed to a minimum, and AF operation can be executed as necessary, so that it is possible to prevent blurred movie 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 a flowchart showing a procedure of a moving image shooting mode with audio recording related to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a moving image shooting mode without sound recording related to the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a still image shooting mode related to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a view showing a display example on a monitor in the moving image shooting mode with the same audio recording.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Shooting system 2 ... Image processing system 3 ... Control / operation system 4 ... Display / output system 5 ... Audio recording system 10 ... Optical lens unit 11 ... Imaging device (CCD)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Imaging circuit 13 ... Lens drive motor 14 ... Lens driver 20A ... 1st SRAM
20B ... Second SRAM
21 ... DSP
22 ... AF circuit 23 ... Image compression / expansion unit 24 ... AE circuit 30 ... SDRAM
31 ... Memory card 32 ... Main CPU
33 ... Sub CPU
34 ... Flash memory 35 ... Operation unit 40 ... Audio output terminal 41 ... Audio amplifier circuit 42 ... LCD driver 43 ... LCD monitor 44 ... YCMIX circuit 45 ... Video driver 46 ... Video output terminal 50 ... Audio microphone 51 ... Microphone amplifier circuit 52 ... A / D converter

Claims (3)

Electronic imaging means for converting a subject image photographed by the image sensor into image data;
A video shooting means for performing a video shooting operation;
Focusing means for focusing a subject image formed on the image sensor;
Focusing instruction means for instructing execution of the focusing means from a photographer ;
Focusing control means for controlling the focusing means,
The focusing control means includes
When the moving image shooting means is in moving image shooting without sound recording, the focusing means is operated regardless of the instruction from the focusing instruction means when the in-focus amount is out of the allowable range. controlled to, wherein the moving image shooting means shooting video with audio recording, the in before the start of the movie shooting by moving image shooting means by operating the focusing means, indicated by the focusing instruction means during execution of the moving image shooting The electronic camera apparatus is controlled to operate the focusing means according to the above. In-focus detection means for detecting an in-focus state during moving image shooting by the moving image shooting means;
The electronic camera apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a focus display unit that displays a focus state detected by the focus detection unit.   The in-focus instruction means is an instruction means by an operation member for instructing a shooting preparation operation by a first operation and starting a shooting operation by a second operation. The electronic camera device described.

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