JP4759190B2 - Imaging apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera (including a digital video camera) and a control method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, many digital cameras that convert image signals into digital signals and record them on a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory card have been sold. This digital camera can easily check a captured image (quick review) by immediately displaying the captured image on a display portion using a TFT or the like.
[0003]
In the above-mentioned quick review, in most cases, the display time on the display unit using TFT or the like can be set by the operation unit of the digital camera. Further, the display time has a setting range from the second unit to the longest and not extinguished. The photographer can confirm the photographed image at the time of photographing by displaying the image processed after photographing on the display unit.
[0004]
The display unit is turned off after a set display time. However, when the quick review setting time is set not to be turned off, the light is not turned off until the photographing system is operated or the main unit enters the power saving mode by the auto power off function.
[0005]
The auto power-off function is normally activated when a certain period of time (auto power-off setting time) elapses when the apparatus main body is not operated.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional imaging device as described above, if the auto power-off operation is prohibited and the quick review function is set not to turn off after the quick review display, if the device body is left as it is, However, there is a problem that power is consumed more than usual because the image continues to be displayed on the display unit using a TFT or the like without confirming the image.
[0007]
Even when the display unit is turned on by an operation from the operation unit and various setting items are selected and set from the menu on the display screen, if left unattended after setting, power saving such as auto power off is possible. Since there is no timing to turn off until the mode is changed, there is a problem that power is consumed similarly.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and have the auto power-off operation prohibition, be reduced to the power consumption if you set so as not to turn off after quick review display An object of the present invention is to provide a possible imaging apparatus and a control method thereof.
[0009]
An imaging apparatus and a control method thereof according to the present invention are configured as follows.
(1) An imaging apparatus including a display unit for displaying an image, the auto power off function for stopping a predetermined function at a first set time, and the captured image displayed on the display unit immediately after shooting An image confirming function, a setting means for setting a display time for displaying an image on the display section by the image confirming function, a light-off means for turning off the display section at a second set time, and the display section Display control means for controlling the display, and the display control means displays by the setting means so that the auto power off function is set to off and the display unit for displaying the photographed image is not turned off. Imaging for controlling the display unit so that the display unit is turned off when the second set time has elapsed since the start of image display on the display unit by the image confirmation function even when the time is set apparatus
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
This digital camera includes an imaging unit 1 that captures a subject, a buffer (previous buffer) 2 that accumulates digital data (imaging data) from the imaging unit 1, and an image processing unit that processes imaging data stored in the buffer 2. 3, a buffer (post-buffer) 4 for storing images processed by the image processing unit 3, a recording unit 5 such as a semiconductor memory for storing images stored in the buffer 4, and image display or setting item display. The display unit 6 includes a display control unit 7 that controls the display unit 6, a system control unit 8 that controls the entire system of the digital camera, and an operation unit 9 that performs a shooting operation or other control operations.
[0021]
In the above-described digital camera, in this embodiment, an auto power-off function that turns off (stops) a predetermined function (partial or all functions) in a first set time, and a quick review function (an image check function at the time of shooting) ), A turn-off function for turning off the display unit 6 in the second set time, a function for displaying various setting items such as the camera body (device body) on the display unit 6 and various settings of the camera body on the display unit 6 It has a selection function that enables selection.
[0022]
Then, the display control unit 7 determines a second set time based on the first set time, and controls the display unit 6 to be turned off by the second set time. The display control unit 7 of this embodiment has a calculation function for calculating the second set time based on the first set time and a measurement function for measuring the calculated second set time. The display unit 6 is controlled to be extinguished at a set time of 2.
[0023]
The operation unit 9 also has a selection function for selecting various setting items of the camera body, a selection function for selecting the operation of the quick review function, and a setting for setting a display time to be displayed on the display unit 6 by the quick review function. It has a function. When the display unit 6 is turned on and left by the operation of the operation unit 9, the display unit 6 is turned off independently of the auto power off function, and the quick review function can be operated. In the case where the photographed image is displayed on the display unit 6 after the photographing operation, and the display unit 6 is left unattended after that, the display unit 6 is turned off independently of the auto power off.
[0024]
Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the power consumption that occurs even when the setting is made so that the light is not turned off after the quick review display or when the setting items are set and left as they are.
[0025]
Next, the calculation processing of the display unit turn-off time according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control processing shown in this flowchart and the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4 to be described later is executed according to a program stored in advance by the CPU of the system control unit 8 in FIG.
[0026]
By the operation of the operation unit 9, the setting screen of the camera body is displayed on the display unit 6 using a TFT or the like. Then, the first time (set time) can be selected by operating the operation buttons and the dial of the operation unit 9 (step S1). When the first time is selected by the operation unit 9 and the auto power off function is set (ON) (step S2), the system control unit 7 sets the first time as the time during which the auto power off of the camera operates. Set (step S3). At that time, the system control unit 7 notifies the display control unit 6 of the first time.
[0027]
Next, when the quick review function is set (step S4) and the quick review display time is selected (step S5), the display control unit 7 can continuously display the display unit 6 from the notified first time. A second time (set time), which is time (time for forcibly turning off when the camera body is left unoperated), is calculated (step S6). This is the turn-off time of the display unit 6, and this second time is held by the display control unit 7 (step S7).
[0028]
Instead of calculating the second time, a table relating to the first time and the second time may be prepared, and the second time may be selected and determined from this table.
[0029]
For example, 1 minute to Selection of the first time, 2 minutes, 4 minutes, 8 minutes, when there is a transposition eyes not use the automatic power-off function, the second time 30 seconds each of the display unit 6, Prepare tables that correspond to 1 minute, 2 minutes, 2 minutes, and 15 minutes. This second time is set to be sufficiently longer than the longest time of the quick review display time (excluding the case where the display in the display time is not erased) and shorter than the selected first time. Further, the second time is recalculated every time the first time is changed by operating the operation unit 9.
[0030]
Here, when the display unit 6 is continuously displayed in the camera operation, the digital camera displays the display unit when the second time elapses earlier than the first time for the auto power off operation. 6 is turned off.
[0031]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the display unit turn-off control process when the operation button is pressed according to this embodiment.
[0032]
The operation unit 9 is used to select parameters of the camera body. When the display unit 6 is turned on by the operation of the operation button of the operation unit 9 (step S11) (step S12), the display control unit 7 starts measuring the second time simultaneously with the lighting (step S13). When the operation by the target operation unit 9 is completed, the system control unit 8 notifies the display control unit 7 of the operation end. The display operation unit 7 holds the display state of the display unit 6 until a notification of turning off of the display unit 6 is notified from the system control unit 8 by an operation of the photographing system or the like.
[0033]
When the turn-off time elapses from the start of the second time measurement (step S14), the display control unit 7 forcibly turns off the display unit 6 (step S15).
[0034]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the display unit turn-off control process during the quick review of this embodiment.
[0035]
When the quick review function is enabled by the operation unit 9 (steps S4 and S21), the shooting data shot by the imaging unit 1 is stored in the buffer 2, and after being processed by the image processing unit 3, it is stored in the buffer 4. Then, it is displayed on the display unit 6 (step S22). Then, measurement of the second time is started (step 23).
[0036]
When the quick review display time is short (step S5), the display unit 6 is turned off when the quick review display time elapses (step S24). However, when the display unit 6 is turned on for the purpose of selecting some setting of the camera body by the operation unit 9 and the lighting time is continuously long, in other words, when the display unit 6 is turned off only by the auto power off operation, When the second time has elapsed (step S25), the display unit 6 is forcibly turned off at a time earlier than the auto power off (step S26), and power saving is started.
[0037]
Further, when limited to the quick review function, the display control unit 7 determines the second time based on the preset value of the first time, and the display control unit 7 sets the second time simultaneously with the quick review display. Time measurement is started (step S23). Then, when the second time has elapsed (step S25), the display unit 6 is forcibly turned off (step S26).
[0038]
When the quick review display time is selected not to be turned off by the operation of the operation unit 9 (step S4) and the auto power off function is not selected by the operation of the operation unit 9 (step S2), conventionally, Since there is no timing to turn off the display of the display unit 6 by the quick review function, the display unit 6 continues to display.
[0039]
However, in the present embodiment, when the above condition is selected, the display control unit 7 measures the second time (15 minutes in the above example) when the display unit 6 is turned on by the quick review (step S22). When the second time elapses (step S24), the display unit 6 is turned off to save power (step S26).
[0040]
As described above, in this embodiment, the auto power-off time and the camera body function can be selected by the operation unit 9, and the information selected by the operation unit 9 is set as a setting value of the camera body by the system control unit 8. Information is notified to each control unit as it is set. In the case of the present embodiment, when the auto power off time is set by operating the operation unit 9, the display control unit 7 displays the display time on the display unit 6 such as a TFT based on the set auto power off time. And the time is measured from the start of lighting of the display unit 6.
[0041]
When the display time elapses, the display control unit 7 turns off the display unit 6. At that time, by setting the time longer than the display time in the quick review (except when the display time is set to not turn off) and shorter than the auto power off, the camera body can be left untouched. It can be avoided that the display unit 6 such as a TFT continues to be lit, thereby saving power.
[0042]
In addition, when the camera is left unattended, the auto power-off time elapses, and the display unit 6 is turned off only after shifting to the power saving mode, so that the generated power consumption can be reduced.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, and be in the auto power-off operation prohibition, it is possible to reduce power consumption, if you do not turn off after the quick review display.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a calculation process of a display unit turn-off time according to the embodiment. Flowchart showing turn-off control [FIG. 4] Flow chart showing display-part turn-off control during quick review of the embodiment [Explanation of symbols]
1 Imaging unit 2 Buffer (previous buffer)
3 Image processing unit 4 Buffer (back buffer)
5 Recording unit 6 Display unit 7 Display control unit 8 System control unit 9 Operation unit

Claims (2)

An imaging apparatus including a display unit for displaying an image,
An auto power-off function that stops a predetermined function at a first set time, and an image confirmation function that displays the captured image on the display unit immediately after shooting,
Setting means for setting a display time for displaying an image on the display unit by the image confirmation function;
And off means for turning off the display unit in the second set time,
A display control unit for controlling the display unit,
Even if the display control means sets the display time by the setting means so that the auto power off function is set to OFF and the display section for displaying the captured image is not turned off, the image An imaging apparatus , wherein the display unit is controlled so that the display unit is turned off when the second set time elapses from the start of image display on the display unit by a confirmation function . A method for controlling an imaging apparatus including a display unit for displaying an image,
An auto power-off function that stops a predetermined function at a first set time, and an image confirmation function that displays the captured image on the display unit immediately after shooting,
A setting step for setting a display time for displaying an image on the display unit by the image confirmation function;
And off step of turning off the display unit in the second set time,
A display control step for controlling the display unit,
In the display control step, even when the auto power-off function is set to OFF and the display time is set by the setting step so as not to turn off the display unit that displays the captured image, the image A method for controlling an imaging apparatus , comprising: controlling the display unit so that the display unit is turned off when the second set time has elapsed from the start of image display on the display unit by a confirmation function .

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