JP4327964B2 - Electronic camera device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention particularly relates to an electronic camera device having a camera shake correction 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 (digital movie camera) whose main function is moving image shooting, in addition to a digital camera (digital still camera) whose main function is still image shooting.
[0003]
By the way, in recent electronic cameras, products including a moving image shooting function (including a through image display function) and a so-called camera shake correction function have been developed in addition to a still image shooting function. The camera shake correction function is a function that corrects a deviation (image shake) in the imaging position of a subject that occurs in the imaging optical system due to camera shake of a photographer (electronic camera user) during shooting.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, there is a situation where camera shake is likely to occur due to an unstable shooting posture of the photographer depending on the shooting situation, a shooting environment, operability of the camera, and the like. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of camera shake, particularly by improving the operability of the camera. Specifically, an electronic camera with an improved grip shape of the camera body has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-163199).
[0005]
However, it is not a fixed one that simply improves the shape of the grip, but a method that can detect a situation in which camera shake is likely to occur and that can suppress the occurrence of camera shake at the time of shooting is desirable.
[0006]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera that can suppress the occurrence of camera shake at the time of shooting by predicting the amount of camera shake at the time of shooting and detecting a situation in which camera shake is likely to occur outside the allowable range. To provide an apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention predicts the occurrence of camera shake exceeding the allowable range at the time of shooting based on the camera shake value detected by the camera shake detection means, copes with a situation in which camera shake is likely to occur, and can suppress the occurrence of camera shake in advance. The present invention relates to an electronic camera device having a function.
[0008]
An electronic camera device according to an aspect of the present invention includes an imaging device that photoelectrically converts a subject image obtained by receiving light through a photographing lens to generate image data, and the subject image through a viewing optical system. Finder means configured to be observable, monitor display means configured to be observable by displaying the subject image on a display screen using the image data, and a camera shake value related to camera shake is detected A camera shake detecting means for adjusting the imaging position of the subject image, and a monitor display means for displaying the monitor image on the basis of the camera shake value detected by the camera shake detecting means. A camera shake correction control unit configured to perform a camera shake correction process by driving an image stabilization unit, and to control the camera shake correction process not to be performed when the subject image is observed using the finder unit; When the monitor display means displays on the monitor and the camera shake correction process is being performed, if it is determined that the camera shake value detected by the camera shake detection means exceeds the first allowable value, a warning is executed. When it is determined that the camera shake value exceeds the second allowable value, a notice is given to switch from the monitor display to the observation using the finder means, and the camera shake is observed when the subject image is observed using the finder means. And a notification control means for executing a warning when it is determined that the value exceeds the second allowable value .
[0009]
In general, when a photographer takes a picture while observing a subject on a monitor display screen, the camera shake is likely to occur. In such a case, according to the configuration of the present invention, when a situation in which the camera shake is likely to occur is detected based on the predicted camera shake value, a view-type finder means (optical viewfinder or EVF) is used at the time of shooting. It is possible to make a notice prompting the use of. Therefore, for example, when the photographer shoots in an unstable photographing posture, the photographer can be encouraged to observe with a view finder that can suppress the amount of camera shake relative to the observation of the subject on the monitor display screen. . Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of camera shake during shooting and obtain a stable shooting result.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
(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 a digital still 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.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic camera according to the embodiment is roughly divided into a photographing system 1, an image processing system 2, a main control system (system controller) 3, a display system 4, and an input operation system (input operation unit). ) 5, a recording system 6, and a power supply system 7.
[0013]
The photographing system 1 includes a zoom lens 10, a diaphragm unit 11, an image stabilization unit 12, an autofocus (AF) lens 13, a shutter 14, a transflective mirror 15, an imaging circuit 16, and an optical viewfinder 17. Have However, the optical finder 17 is not necessarily required when there is a view-type EVF ((Electro-view finder) 43 described later.
[0014]
The image stabilization unit 12 is an element related to the camera shake correction function of the embodiment, and includes a correction optical lens for adjusting the imaging position of the subject. The image stabilization unit 12 is driven by the image stabilization actuator 102 to adjust (correct) the imaging position within a two-dimensional correction limit range in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The shutter 14 is normally open and is closed in response to an on operation (deep pressing operation) of a release button (still image shooting button) 50 of the input operation unit 5 to control a still image exposure time. The image pickup circuit 16 usually has a charge coupled device (CCD) image pickup device with millions of pixels, and photoelectrically converts a subject image received through the optical lens system (10 to 13). The imaging circuit 16 also includes various signal processing circuits such as gamma correction and white balance adjustment.
[0015]
The zoom lens 10, the diaphragm unit 11, the AF lens 13, and the shutter 14 are driven by a zoom motor 100, a diaphragm motor 101, an AF motor 103, and a shutter actuator 104, respectively. The motors (100 to 103) and the actuator 104 including the vibration isolation actuator 102 are driven and controlled by a drive circuit (driver) 105 controlled by the system controller 3.
[0016]
The image processing system 2 includes an A / D converter 20, a buffer memory 21, a moving image compression / decompression processing unit 22, a still image compression / decompression processing unit 23, and an AE (automatic exposure) circuit 24 related to an automatic exposure mechanism. And a contrast detection circuit 25 related to AF (Auto Focus) processing. Each element of the image processing system 2 other than the A / D converter 20 and the buffer memory 21 is specifically composed of an image processing CPU (microprocessor) and a memory storing its control program. The A / D converter 20 converts the image signal (analog signal corresponding to the number of pixels) obtained from the imaging circuit 16 into a digital signal (image data) and sends it to the buffer memory 21.
[0017]
The moving image compression / decompression processing unit 22 functions in the moving image shooting mode, performs image compression processing (for example, motion JPEG compression) on the image data stored in the buffer memory 21, and records it as a continuous file (video data). Record in line 6. In addition, the moving image compression / decompression processing unit 22 performs image decompression processing of the image data read from the recording system 6 during reproduction. The still image compression / decompression processing unit 23 functions in the still image mode, executes image compression processing (for example, JPEG compression) on the image data stored in the buffer memory 21, and records it as still image data in the recording system 6. . The still image compression / decompression processing unit 23 performs an image decompression process on the image data read from the recording system 6 during reproduction.
[0018]
The system controller 3 includes a control CPU (microprocessor) and a memory that stores a control program thereof. The system controller 3 controls the photographing system 1 via the drive circuit 105 and controls each element of the image processing system 2, the strobe control circuit 81, and the power supply unit 70. Furthermore, as will be described later, the system controller 3 accepts various inputs from the input operation unit 5, a power detection signal from the power detection circuit 72, and a camera shake detection value related to the embodiment from the camera shake sensor 90, Various control operations such as camera shake correction operation and exposure control are executed. The camera shake sensor 90 is an acceleration sensor, and detects a camera shake value (BR) by an operator at the time of photographing. In response to an operation input of the still image release (shutter) button 50 of the input operation unit 5, the system controller 3 executes a still image shooting operation and a moving image shooting operation.
[0019]
The system controller 3 controls the light emission of the strobe light emitting unit 80 during the photographing operation via the strobe control circuit 81. Further, the system controller 3 inputs a power supply detection signal from the power supply detection circuit 72 and controls the power supply unit 70. The power supply unit 70 is a main element of the power supply system 7 and inputs external power from the battery 71 and the external power supply terminal 73 to supply operating power to various elements. The power supply detection circuit 72 monitors the power supply voltage of the power supply unit 70 and outputs a power supply detection signal as a monitoring result to the system controller 3.
[0020]
The display system 4 includes a display processing circuit 40, a display device 41, and an on-screen circuit 42. The display device 41 is a liquid crystal monitor device having a liquid crystal display screen (for example, a TFT panel) (hereinafter referred to as a liquid crystal monitor). The display processing circuit 40 performs display processing on the moving image data or still image data stored in the buffer memory 21 and supplies it to the display device 41. The on-screen circuit 42 performs processing so that setting information (SC) for setting various shooting conditions (aperture value, shutter speed, etc.) from the system controller 3 is displayed on the display device 41. Furthermore, in the same embodiment, a peep-type EVF 43 is provided separately from the liquid crystal monitor 41. The view-type EVF 43 displays a through image obtained by the A / D converter 20 and the moving image processing unit (included in the moving image compression / decompression processing unit 22).
[0021]
The recording system 6 of the embodiment includes a moving image medium 60 and a still image medium 62. The moving image medium 60 is composed of, for example, a magneto-optical disk, and is recorded and reproduced by a moving image recording / reproducing circuit 61 included in the disk drive. The still image medium 62 is a memory card composed of, for example, a flash EEPROM, and is recorded and reproduced by a still image recording / reproducing circuit 63 included in the memory controller.
[0022]
(Control operations related to camera shake)
Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and FIGS. 3 and 4 together with FIG.
[0023]
In the electronic camera of the embodiment, for example, the moving image shooting mode is executed by half-pressing the release button 50 of the input operation unit 5, and the still image shooting mode is executed by pressing the release button 50 deeply. In the display system 4, a through image of the subject image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 41 and the EVF 43 by half-pressing the release button 50.
[0024]
Here, when camera shake occurs by the photographer during shooting, the camera shake sensor 90 detects the camera shake amount (camera shake value BR) and inputs it to the system controller 3. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the amount of camera shake varies with respect to the shooting time T. As shown in FIG. 4, by detecting a shooting time (shooting situation) in which a camera shake amount (shake value BR) outside the allowable range that affects the shooting result occurs, it is possible to suppress the camera shake during the shooting. It becomes possible. Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2, a control procedure related to camera shake suppression according to the embodiment will be described.
[0025]
First, when the release button 50 of the input operation 5 is half-pressed by the photographer, the through image of the subject image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 41 or the EVF 43 in the display system 4 by the operations of the photographing system 1 and the image processing system 2. (YES in step S1, S2). The system controller 3 inputs a camera shake value detected by the camera shake sensor 90, and starts a camera shake detection process (step S3). Based on the detected camera shake value, the system controller 3 predicts a camera shake value (BR) at the time of actual photographing, that is, at the time of exposure (step S4). This prediction process is performed based on, for example, fluctuation characteristics of the camera shake amount as shown in FIG.
[0026]
Here, the system controller 3 determines whether or not the liquid crystal monitor 41 is functioning (step S5). In other words, if the liquid crystal monitor 41 is off (the function is stopped), the photographer can estimate that the image is being taken while observing the subject image with the view-type EVF 43 (or the optical viewfinder 17) (NO in step S5). .
[0027]
The system controller 3 compares the predicted camera shake value (BR) with a reference value BRT (allowable camera shake value allowed at the time of exposure according to exposure conditions), and determines whether the camera shake value (BR) is within an allowable range. Is determined (step S6). When the predicted camera shake value (BR) exceeds the allowable value (BRT), the system controller 3 executes a notification process for outputting a warning message (YES in step S6, S7).
[0028]
The warning message is displayed on, for example, an LCD different from the liquid crystal monitor 41 as shown in FIG. Further, the warning message may be output as a voice by a voice output device. That is, the photographer is urged to perform photographing (finder photographing) while observing the subject image with the view-type EVF 43 (or the optical viewfinder 17). Here, the system controller 3 performs control such as adjusting the gain of the imaging circuit 16 to correct the sensitivity value of the image sensor based on the camera shake value detected at the time of shooting, and executes the camera shake correction process. .
[0029]
On the other hand, if the liquid crystal monitor 41 is on, the photographer may not use the view-type EVF 43 (or the optical viewfinder 17) (YES in step S5). Based on the predicted camera shake value (BR), the system controller 3 executes control of the image stabilization unit 12 and starts camera shake correction processing (step S8).
[0030]
The system controller 3 compares the predicted camera shake value (BR) with the reference value (BRT + ΔE), and determines whether or not the camera shake value (BR) is within an allowable range (step S9). Here, ΔE is a conversion correction value (fixed value) for reducing the amount of camera shake between shooting using the liquid crystal monitor 41 and viewfinder shooting using the view-type EVF 43. When the predicted camera shake value (BR) exceeds the allowable value (BRT + ΔE), the system controller 3 executes a notification process for outputting a warning message as described above (see FIG. 3A) (step S9 YES, S7).
[0031]
If the predicted camera shake value (BR) is within the allowable value (BRT + ΔE), the system controller 3 compares the predicted camera shake value (BR) with the reference value (BRT) (step S10). When the camera shake value (BR) predicted based on the determination result exceeds the allowable value (BRT), the system controller 3 executes notification processing for outputting a monitor switching warning message (YES in step S10, S11).
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 3B, this warning message is a message indicating switching from shooting by the liquid crystal monitor 41 to shooting by the view-type EVF 43 (or the optical viewfinder 17) (finder shooting). The warning message may also be a voice output by a voice output device. Further, the system controller 3 turns off the liquid crystal monitor 41 and stops the function (step S12). Therefore, the photographer performs the photographing operation while observing the subject image with the view type EVF 43 (or the optical viewfinder 17) without using the liquid crystal monitor 41.
[0033]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the camera shake value (BR) at the time of actual shooting (at the time of exposure) is predicted at the start of shooting, and if the allowable range is exceeded, finder shooting is performed for the photographer. A reminder is made. Therefore, a stable shooting operation can be realized by encouraging finder shooting that can relatively suppress the occurrence of camera shake as compared with shooting by the liquid crystal monitor 41 in accordance with shooting conditions in which camera shake is likely to occur.
[0034]
If the photographer has already performed shooting with the liquid crystal monitor 41, the liquid crystal monitor 41 is actually turned off to switch to viewfinder shooting. Therefore, since the photographer can surely shift to viewfinder shooting, it is possible to realize a stable shooting operation in which the occurrence of camera shake is suppressed in a shooting situation in which camera shake is likely to occur.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the camera shake correction process is executed based on the camera shake value detected when the monitor display means displays the monitor, and the camera shake value is determined as the allowable camera shake value at the time of exposure. When it is determined that the value exceeds the maximum value, the photographer can be notified to switch from the monitor display to the observation using the finder. Thus, to address the likely to occur situations of camera shake, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of camera shake from occurring.
[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 for explaining a camera shake-related control operation according to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a warning operation related to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a camera shake correction operation related to the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Shooting system 2 ... Image processing system 3 ... System controller 4 ... Display system 5 ... Input operation part 6 ... Recording system 7 ... Power supply system 10 ... Zoom lens 11 ... Diaphragm part 12 ... Anti-vibration unit 13 ... AF lens 14 ... Shutter DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Transflective mirror 16 ... Imaging circuit 17 ... Optical finder 20 ... A / D converter 21 ... Buffer memory 22 ... Moving image compression / decompression processing unit 23 ... Still image compression / decompression processing unit 24 ... AE circuit 25 ... Contrast detection circuit 40 ... display processing circuit 41 ... display device 42 ... on-screen circuit 43 ... view-type EVF
60 ... Movie medium 61 ... Movie recording / reproducing circuit 62 ... Still image medium 63 ... Still image recording / reproducing circuit 70 ... Power source 71 ... Battery 72 ... Power source detection circuit 80 ... Strobe light emitting unit 81 ... Strobe control circuit 90 ... Camera shake sensor 100 ... Zoom motor 101 ... Aperture motor 102 ... Anti-vibration actuator 103 ... AF motor 104 ... Shutter actuator 105 ... Drive circuit

Claims (3)

An image sensor that photoelectrically converts a subject image obtained by receiving light through a photographing lens to generate image data;
Finder means configured to allow observation of the subject image via a viewing optical system;
Monitor display means configured to display and observe the subject image on a display screen using the image data;
Camera shake detection means for detecting a camera shake value related to camera shake;
Anti-vibration means for adjusting the imaging position of the subject image;
When the monitor display means displays the monitor, the image stabilization means is driven based on the camera shake value detected by the camera shake detection means to execute the camera shake correction process, and the subject is detected using the viewfinder means. When observing an image, camera shake correction control means for controlling not to execute the camera shake correction process;
When the monitor display means displays on the monitor and the camera shake correction process is being executed, if it is determined that the camera shake value detected by the camera shake detection means exceeds a first allowable value, a warning is executed. When it is determined that the camera shake value exceeds the second allowable value, a notice is given to switch from the monitor display to the observation using the finder means, and the camera shake is observed when the subject image is observed using the finder means. An electronic camera device comprising: notification control means for executing a warning when it is determined that the value exceeds the second allowable value . The electronic camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second allowable value is an allowable camera shake value that is allowed according to an exposure condition at the time of shooting . 2. The electronic camera apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising means for stopping the monitor operation of the monitor display means after notifying the finder means of switching from the monitor display means to the finder means .

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