JP4696322B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus capable of displaying a through image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a digital camera is generally provided with a liquid crystal monitor on its back surface, and displays a live view image (through image) in which a subject image incident through a photographing lens is sequentially converted into an electrical signal and projected onto the liquid crystal monitor. is there. The user can confirm the subject while viewing the through image projected on the liquid crystal monitor, and can take a picture.

  By the way, when shooting with such a camera, a through image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor, and image data is stored in accordance with a shutter release operation performed during the display of the through image. At this time, the still image taken at the time of the release operation is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor for a certain period (for example, 1.5 seconds or 3 seconds) immediately after shooting, and the still image is displayed (hereinafter referred to as “post view”). It is possible to confirm the still image that has been made, and then switch from the post view to the through image again.

  However, it may be difficult for beginners and unfamiliar users of digital cameras to understand what this postview means.

  In addition, when shooting a stationary object such as a landscape, it is difficult to distinguish even when switching from a through image to a post view, and it is difficult for the user to recognize whether or not shooting has been performed normally. was there.

  In such a case, it is possible to recognize that shooting has been performed normally by operating the camera to a playback mode in which the shot image can be played back and confirming that the shot image is played back. Become.

  Patent Document 1 discloses that image data stored in a temporary storage medium is recorded when a playback operation member is operated even when the captured image data is being recorded in a final secondary storage medium. An electronic camera is described that can be used to move to a playback mode and can play back a desired image at any point in time and check its contents.

  According to this electronic camera, even immediately after shooting, it is possible to check whether shooting has been performed normally by switching to the playback mode.

  Patent Document 2 describes an electronic camera that displays a photographed image on the same display screen as a through image immediately after photographing.

According to this electronic camera, it is possible to confirm whether or not shooting has been performed normally immediately after shooting without switching to the playback mode.
JP 2000-41213 A JP 2001-117163 A

  However, the electronic camera described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is necessary to operate the reproduction operation member, and is complicated.

  In addition, the electronic camera described in Patent Document 2 has a problem that since the captured image and the through image are displayed on the same display screen, the display of the captured image becomes small and difficult to confirm.

  In addition, the conventional post-view is also insufficient as a notice of completion of shooting.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can display a captured image that can be confirmed, can be surely completed, and can be recognized by the user that the image data has been saved normally. The purpose is to provide an imaging device that gives a sense of security and is easy to use.

In order to achieve the object, an imaging apparatus according to claim 1 shoots a moving image during a still image shooting mode, and inputs an imaging instruction by a shutter button, and an imaging unit that performs a still image main shooting, and the book Uses recording means for recording captured still images on a recording medium, the current still image that was actually captured by the imaging means, and the last still image that was actually captured or a plurality of images including the previous still image Then, an image creating means for creating a special effect image, a display means for displaying a moving image or a still image, and a moving image taken as a moving image are displayed on the display means as a live view image, and the live view image is taken after the actual photographing. Instead of display control means for displaying on the display means a still image actually captured as a confirmation image, which is created by the image creation means within a predetermined time after the actual photographing. And a display control means for displaying the special effect image on the display means, said image forming means, and the current still picture that is the shot, the reduced images of a plurality of images including the photographed last still image Is a multi-image arranged in a plurality of divided areas, and uses a multi-image having a blank area for at least one frame, and after the current still image is displayed, the current still image is gradually reduced to A special effect image to be arranged in a blank area is created.

Thereby, the special effect image is displayed after shooting, and the user can recognize that the shooting has been completed. Furthermore, it is possible to confirm the current image that has been actually captured, and to make the user aware that a new image has been saved.

In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to claim 2 shoots a moving image during a still image shooting mode, and inputs a shooting instruction using a shutter button, and an imaging unit that performs a still image main shooting, and the book Uses recording means for recording captured still images on a recording medium, the current still image that was actually captured by the imaging means, and the last still image that was actually captured or a plurality of images including the previous still image Then, an image creating means for creating a special effect image, a display means for displaying a moving image or a still image, and a moving image taken as a moving image are displayed on the display means as a live view image, and the live view image is taken after the actual photographing. Instead of display control means for displaying on the display means a still image actually captured as a confirmation image, which is created by the image creation means within a predetermined time after the actual photographing. And a display control means for displaying on said display means the special effect image, said image forming means, and the current still picture that is the shot, the previous still using the previous still images the shot A special effect image that dynamically switches from a picture to a current still picture is created.

Thereby, the special effect image is displayed after shooting, and the user can recognize that the shooting has been completed. Furthermore , the user can be recognized that a new image has been saved, and the current image that has been actually captured can also be confirmed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the imaging device according to the second aspect, the special effect image is an animation image that gives an impression that the current still image overlaps the previous still image. .

  As a result, the user can be recognized that a new image has been saved, and the current captured image can be confirmed.

  According to the present invention, in an imaging device capable of displaying a through image, not only a still image display but also a special effect image can be displayed after shooting. The user can be made aware that the shooting has been completed and the image data has been successfully stored.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image pickup apparatus (digital camera) 10 according to the present invention as viewed obliquely from behind, and this digital camera 10 has functions of shooting a still image, shooting a moving image, and reproducing the shot image. A power button 1, a shutter button 2, and a mode lever 3 are provided on the top surface.

  The mode lever 3 can be rotated to set any one of an auto shooting mode, a manual shooting mode, a portrait mode, a scene mode in which a landscape mode and a night view mode can be selected, and a moving image shooting mode. ing.

  Also, on the back side, a zoom key 4, a playback button 5, a photo mode button 6 for displaying a menu screen for setting the number of pixels, sensitivity, etc., a multifunction cross key 7 composed of up / down / left / right keys, a menu / OK button 8, A display / return button 9 and a liquid crystal monitor 14 are provided.

  The liquid crystal monitor 14 can display a through image and can be used as an electronic viewfinder, and can also display a reproduced image read from a memory card loaded in the camera.

  The liquid crystal monitor 14 displays various menu screens for manually setting the camera operation mode, white balance, image pixel number, sensitivity, and the like according to the operation of the menu / OK button 8 or the photo mode button 6. Then, a screen for a graphical user interface (GUI) capable of setting manual setting items in accordance with the operation of the cross key 7 and the menu / OK button 8 is displayed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

  In the figure, the CPU 18 has the power button 1, shutter button 2, mode lever 3, zoom key 4, playback button 5, photo mode button 6, cross key 7, menu / OK button 8, and display / return button 9 described above. The integrated control of each circuit in the digital camera 10 based on the input from the operation unit 12 is included, and the process is executed according to the camera control program.

  The CPU 18 is connected to the control bus 20 and the data bus 22.

  In addition to the CPU 18, the control bus 20 and the data bus 22 include an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM) 24, an EEPROM 26, a memory control circuit 28, a digital signal processing circuit 30, a timer circuit 32, an animation creation circuit 34, and a compression / decompression circuit 36. The display control circuit 38 and the external media control circuit 40 are connected. The A / D conversion circuit 54 is connected to the data bus 22.

  The CPU 18 exchanges necessary data between the SDRAM 24 and the EEPROM 26.

  The memory control circuit 28 controls reading / writing of data from / to the SDRAM 24 and the EEPROM 26 in response to a command from the CPU 18.

  The EEPROM 26 stores various parameters relating to camera control such as a camera control program and defect information of the solid-state imaging device.

  The CPU 18 develops the camera control program stored in the EEPROM 26 in the SDRAM 24, and executes various processes while using the SDRAM 24 as a work memory.

  In the digital camera 10, when the power button 1 of the operation unit 12 is turned on, the CPU 18 detects this, turns on the power in the camera, and enters a shooting standby state in the shooting mode.

  In this photographing standby state, the CPU 18 controls the display control circuit 38 to display a through image on the liquid crystal monitor 14.

  The user can perform framing while viewing a through image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14, confirm a subject to be photographed, confirm an image after photographing, and set photographing conditions.

  When the shutter button 2 is half-pressed in the shooting standby state, the CPU 18 detects this and performs AE photometry and AF control. At the time of AE photometry, the brightness of the subject is measured based on the integrated value of the image signal taken in via the solid-state image sensor (CCD) 50.

  This photometric value (photometric value) is used to determine the aperture value of the aperture 44 and the shutter speed during actual photographing.

  At the time of actual photographing, the CPU 18 drives the aperture 44 via the aperture drive unit 58 based on the aperture value determined based on the photometric value, and attains the shutter speed determined based on the photometric value. The charge accumulation time (so-called electronic shutter) in the CCD 50 is controlled via the image sensor driving unit 60.

  Further, the CPU 18 sequentially moves the force lens to the lens position corresponding to the distance from the nearest to infinity during AF control, and at the same time, the high frequency component of the image signal based on the image signal of the AF area captured via the CCD 50 for each lens position. Is obtained, a lens position where the evaluation value reaches a peak is obtained, and contrast AF is performed to move the focus lens to the lens position.

  Subject light is incident on the light-receiving surface of the CCD 50 through a photographing lens 42 including a focus lens, a zoom lens, and the like, a diaphragm 44, an infrared cut filter 46, and an optical low-pass filter 48.

  The CCD 50 is composed of a color CCD provided with R, G, B color filters in a predetermined color filter array (for example, honeycomb array, Bayer array), and light incident on the light receiving surface of the CCD 50 Each photodiode arranged on the surface is converted into a signal charge in an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light. The signal charge accumulated in each photodiode is read according to a timing signal applied from the image sensor driving unit 60 and sequentially output from the CCD 50 as a voltage signal (image signal).

  The analog signal processing circuit 52 includes a CDS circuit and an analog amplifier. The CDS circuit performs correlated double sampling processing on the CCD output signal based on the CDS pulse, and the analog amplifier performs CDS according to the photographing sensitivity setting gain applied from the CPU 18. The image signal output from the circuit is amplified. The A / D conversion circuit 54 converts the analog R, G, and B signals output from the analog signal processing circuit 52 into digital R, G, and B signals, respectively. The data is transferred to the SDRAM 24 through the memory and temporarily stored therein.

  The digital signal processing circuit 30 reads out the R, G, B data stored in the SDRAM 24, applies a digital gain corresponding to the light source type to the data, performs white balance adjustment, and performs gamma (gradation characteristic) processing and Sharpness processing is performed to generate R, G, and B signals. Further, YC signal processing is performed to generate a luminance signal Y and chroma signals Cr and Cb (YC signals), and the YC signals are stored in the SDRAM 24 again.

  The YC signal stored in the SDRAM 24 as described above is compressed into a predetermined format by the compression / decompression circuit 36 and then recorded on the recording medium 16 by the external media control circuit 40.

  The SDRAM 24 always stores the last imaged image data for use by an animation creation circuit described later.

  Since the SDRAM 24 cannot retain the contents when the power is turned off, when the power button 1 of the operation unit 12 is turned on, the CPU 18 detects this and the latest image data recorded on the recording medium 16. Is decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 36 and stored in the SDRAM 24.

  When the actual shooting is performed, the animation creating circuit 34 creates an animation using the image data captured by capturing this time and the previously captured image data stored in the SDRAM 24 in advance, and stored in the SDRAM 24. To do.

  The timer circuit 32 is a circuit for counting the time for displaying the postview.

  Next, the display of the liquid crystal monitor of the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

  In the photographing standby state, the CPU 18 controls the display control circuit 38 to display a through image on the liquid crystal monitor 14 (step S1).

  The user can perform framing while viewing a through image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14, confirm a subject to be photographed, confirm an image after photographing, and set photographing conditions.

  If the shutter button 2 is pressed here, the subject can be photographed (step S2).

  As described above, when shooting is performed, the YC signal, which is captured image data, is stored in the SDRAM 24 (step S3).

  At this time, the animation creating circuit 34 creates an animation using the image data (YC signal) captured and captured this time and the image data captured and captured previously stored in the SDRAM 24 in advance, and stored in the SDRAM 24. (Step S4).

  When the animation is stored in the SDRAM 24, the CPU 18 controls the display control circuit 38 to display this animation on the liquid crystal monitor 14 (step S5).

  When the animation is finished, an image taken this time, that is, a postview is displayed (step S6), and the timer circuit 32 counts the time during which the postview is displayed.

  When the predetermined time elapses, the timer circuit 32 finishes counting, and the CPU 18 controls the display control circuit 38 to return the display on the liquid crystal monitor 14 to a through image (step S7).

  The count time of the timer can be freely set by the user.

  Here, the animation created by the animation creation circuit 34 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a typical frame of an animation preset in the animation creating circuit 34 of the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

  Each frame is divided into a first display area 80, a second display area 81, and a third display area 82.

  This animation is an animation in which the page turning animation is reproduced in reverse, and the previously captured image displayed in the third display area 82 (a) shown in FIG. 4 (a) is shown in FIG. 4 (d). The second display area 81 (d) shown in FIG. 6 is an animation that changes to the image captured this time.

  The animation creation circuit 34 reads, from the SDRAM 24, images previously captured in the third display area 82 and images captured this time in the second display area 81 for all frames including the representative frames shown in FIG. Create an animation that inserts into each and plays these frames in sequence.

  Here, the first display area 80 is an image of a state in which the second display area 81 is turned up and the back side is visible, and is used as white.

  In this way, the animation displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14 after shooting becomes a special effect image having an impression of dynamically overlaying the image shot this time on the previously shot image, and confirms the shot image in the postview. In addition, it is possible to make the user recognize that the image has been reliably captured and stored.

  The animation created by the animation creating circuit 34 is not limited to the animation of this embodiment, and may be, for example, a move-in or wipe animation as long as the animation changes from the previously taken image to the currently taken image.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the data of the images photographed so far is reduced and always stored in the SDRAM 24.

  Since the contents of the SDRAM 24 cannot be retained when the power is turned off, when the power button 1 of the operation unit 12 is turned on, the CPU 18 detects this and has been photographed so far recorded on the recording medium 16. The image data is decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 36 and stored in the SDRAM 24.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a typical frame of an animation set in advance in the animation creating circuit 34 of the second embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. Here, there are seven previously captured images. The case where the eighth picture is taken this time will be described as an example.

  Each frame is divided into a plurality of regions, and a fourth display area 83, a fifth display area 91, a sixth display area 92, a seventh display area 93, an eighth display area 94, and a ninth display area. Display area 95, tenth display area 96, eleventh display area 97, and thirteenth display area 99.

  This animation is an animation in which one image is stored in a multi-display of a plurality of images, and was taken this time displayed in the fourth display area 83 (a) on the entire surface shown in FIG. 5 (a). From the image, the images captured so far in the fifth display area 91 (d) to the thirteenth display area 99 (d) shown in FIG. 5 (d) and this time in the fourth display area 83 (d) are captured. It is an animation that changes to multiple display of images.

  For all frames including the representative frame shown in FIG. 5, the animation creating circuit 34 captures the image captured this time in the fourth display area 83 and the image captured immediately before in the eleventh display area 97. Images taken two times before in the tenth display area 96 and images taken three to seven before 95-91 are read out from the SDRAM 24, inserted into each, and these frames are sequentially inserted. Create an animation to play.

  The fourth display areas 83 (a) to 83 (d) have different sizes, but are reduced and inserted with the same image.

  As described above, since the image captured this time is the eighth image and the ninth image does not exist, the thirteenth display area 99 is a white blank, but the image captured this time is the ninth image and thereafter. Even in the case of this image, an animation similar to that of the eighth image is created, and the thirteenth display area 99 is always displayed in a white space.

  In this way, the animation displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14 after shooting is an animation in which the image captured this time is added as the eighth image in the list display of the latest seven images previously captured.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

  Portions common to those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  When the animation is stored in the SDRAM 24, the CPU 18 controls the display control circuit 38 to display the postview on the liquid crystal monitor 14 (step S15), and the timer circuit 32 counts the time during which the postview is displayed.

  When the predetermined time has elapsed, the timer circuit 32 finishes counting (step S16), and the CPU 18 controls the display control circuit 38 to display an animation on the liquid crystal monitor 14 (step S17).

  When the animation ends, the CPU 18 controls the display control circuit 38 to return the display on the liquid crystal monitor 14 to the through image (step S1).

  The count time of the timer can be freely set by the user.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a typical frame of an animation preset in the animation creating circuit 34 of the second embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. The image taken this time is the fourth image. It represents an animation at a certain time.

  Each frame includes a fourth display area 83, a fifth display area 91, a sixth display area 92, a seventh display area 93, a ninth display area 95, a tenth display area 96, and an eleventh display. It is divided into an area 97, a twelfth display area 98, and a thirteenth display area 99.

  This animation is generated from the image captured this time displayed in the fourth display area 83 (a) on the entire surface shown in FIG. 7 (a) from the fifth display area 91 (d) to 91th shown in FIG. 7 (d). The animation changes to a multi-display of 13 images displayed in the display area 99 (d) so far and the current image captured in the fourth display area 83 (d).

  For all frames including the representative frame shown in FIG. 7, the animation creating circuit 34 captures the image captured this time in the fourth display area 83 and the image captured immediately before in the seventh display area 93. An animation in which an image captured two images before in the sixth display area 92 and an image captured three images before in the fifth display area 91 are read from the SDRAM 24, inserted into each, and these frames are sequentially reproduced. Create

  The fourth display areas 83 (a) to 83 (d) have different sizes, but are reduced and inserted with the same image.

  Note that since the image taken this time is the fourth image and there are no images after the fifth image, the ninth display area 95 to the thirteenth display area 99 are white blanks.

  As a result, the animation displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14 after shooting is an animation in which the currently shot image is added as the fourth image in the list display of the three previously shot images.

  As described above, in the second embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the animation displayed after shooting differs depending on the number of the image shot this time.

  When the number of shots exceeds 9, the animation may be added to the list display again from the first shot.

  In this embodiment, the post view is displayed after the animation is displayed, or the animation is displayed after the post view is displayed. In any case, an animation including the post view is created, Only the animation may be displayed immediately after shooting.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention as viewed obliquely from the rear. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a typical frame of an animation displayed on the liquid crystal monitor in the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a typical frame of an animation displayed on the liquid crystal monitor in the second embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing each frame of the animation displayed on the liquid crystal monitor in the second embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Imaging device (digital camera), 14 ... Liquid crystal monitor, 16 ... Recording medium, 18 ... CPU, 34 ... Animation creation circuit, 24 ... SDRAM, 26 ... EEPROM, 28 ... Memory control circuit, 38 ... Display control circuit, 40 ... External media control circuit, 42 ... Lens, 50 ... CCD, 52 ... Analog signal processing circuit, 54 ... A / D converter

Claims (3)

An imaging unit that performs video shooting during the still image shooting mode and inputs a shooting instruction using a shutter button,
Recording means for recording the still image that has been actually captured on a recording medium;
An image creating means for creating a special effect image using the current still image captured by the imaging unit and the last captured still image or a plurality of images including the previous still image;
Display means for displaying moving images or still images;
Display control means for causing the display means to display the moving picture that has been shot as a live view image, and to display the still picture that was actually shot instead of the live view image as a confirmation image on the display means after the actual shooting. Display control means for causing the display means to display the special effect image created by the image creating means within a predetermined time after the main photographing,
Equipped with a,
The image creating means is a multi-image in which reduced images of a plurality of images including a current still image that has been actually captured and a previous still image that has been actually captured are arranged in a plurality of divided regions, and at least one frame An image pickup apparatus using a multi-image having a blank area for a minute, and creating a special effect image for displaying the current still picture and then gradually reducing the current still picture and arranging the still picture in the blank area . An imaging unit that performs video shooting during the still image shooting mode and inputs a shooting instruction using a shutter button,
Recording means for recording the still image that has been actually captured on a recording medium;
An image creating means for creating a special effect image using the current still image captured by the imaging unit and the last captured still image or a plurality of images including the previous still image;
Display means for displaying moving images or still images;
Display control means for causing the display means to display the moving picture that has been shot as a live view image, and to display the still picture that was actually shot instead of the live view image as a confirmation image on the display means after the actual shooting. Display control means for causing the display means to display the special effect image created by the image creating means within a predetermined time after the main photographing,
With
The image creation means creates a special effect image that dynamically switches from the previous still image to the current still image using the current still image that was actually captured and the previous still image that was captured. imaging device characterized.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the special effect image is an animation image that gives an impression that a current still image overlaps a previous still image.

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