JP4781065B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus , and particularly to an imaging apparatus having a function of an electronic still camera.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an imaging device that records a moving image on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, various imaging devices with an electronic still camera having an electronic still camera function capable of recording not only a moving image but also a still image have been devised. ing.

A typical configuration of a conventional imaging apparatus is shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration of the conventional imaging apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
The imaging apparatus 300 includes an EVF 310, a liquid crystal monitor 320, an operation member 330, a lens 340, a rotating unit 350, and a mode switching unit 360.

  The EVF 310 is an image display unit that can visually see a subject, a reproduced video signal, and the like depending on an eyepiece state. The liquid crystal monitor 320 is an image display unit that can visually see a subject, a reproduced video signal, and the like in a non-eyepiece state.

  The operation member 330 is a member that performs operations for recording / reproduction and other operations for system control. The lens 340 is a light collecting member for imaging a subject. The rotation unit 350 is a member for rotating the liquid crystal monitor 320. The mode switching unit 360 is a unit for switching between a camera mode for capturing an image of a subject and a playback mode for reproducing a video signal already recorded on a recording medium. It is.

  In the imaging apparatus configured as described above, when a still image is shot and recorded during moving image recording using the electronic still camera function or the like, the moving image being recorded is displayed on the EVF 310 or the liquid crystal monitor 320. Therefore, it is difficult to display a captured still image. In order to solve this problem, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of confirming a captured still image using two display devices without interrupting the display of a moving image.

JP-A-10-32734

  However, in the above-described conventional imaging device, when a still image is shot during recording of a moving image, the original image for moving image is displayed on the EVF or the liquid crystal monitor, so that the still image is previewed. In this case, it is necessary to operate the operation member such as the operation unit 330 to instruct still image reproduction. For this reason, it is difficult for the operator to concentrate the consciousness on the recording of the moving image, leading to a recording error of the moving image. Further, in the above-described conventional imaging device, the display mode of the still image preview itself has been discussed, but the specific method for realizing the display is not discussed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems.For example, when a still image is taken in a situation where a moving image is being taken while looking through a viewfinder, it is easy and An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device that can clearly display a still image and is highly reliable and easy to use.

An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject, a first image display unit that displays a moving image captured by the imaging unit, and a moving image or a recording medium captured by the imaging unit. A second image display unit for displaying the reproduced still image; and a rotation unit that changes a direction of the second image display unit in a rotation direction. The second image is operated by the operation of the rotation unit. Trigger signal output means for outputting a trigger signal when the open / closed state of the display means changes, and when the second image display means changes from a closed state to an open state, the first image display means When the display is turned off and the display of the second image display means is turned on, and the second image display means changes from the open state to the closed state, the display of the second image display means is changed. Turn off and said first To turn on the display of the image display means, have a display switching means for switching a display state in response to the trigger signal, a state where the second image display means is closed, the first image display When a still image is shot and recorded on the recording medium while a moving image is shot with the display of the means turned on, the display switching means opens from a state where the second image display means is closed. The display of the second image display means is turned on without turning off the display of the first image display means, and the second image display means reproduces from the recording medium. When the still image display stop command is received or when a predetermined time has elapsed after the still image is displayed, the display of the first image display means is turned off, and the second image display Take a picture of the means That is switched to the moving image.

  According to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, when a still image is captured in a situation where a moving image is being captured, it is possible to easily and clearly display the still image while continuing to display the moving image during shooting. Therefore, it is possible to perform imaging with high reliability and excellent usability.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this specification, the term “image” is a concept that indicates so-called narrowly defined images such as natural images, figures, pictures, and photographs, as well as characters such as letters, numbers, symbols, and the like. Shall also be included.
“Recording” is not limited to the formation of significant information such as letters and figures, and whether or not it is materialized so that it can be perceived visually by humans. In other words, a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on the recording medium, or the medium is processed.

(Configuration of imaging device)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The lens 201 is for entering a subject image. The image sensor 202 is composed of a CCD or the like, and photoelectrically converts a subject image incident from the lens 201.
The camera signal processing unit 203 generates a luminance signal and a color difference signal by performing matrix processing on the output signal from the image sensor 202, performs processing such as gamma processing and A / D conversion, and performs card recording / playback unit 204 or magnetic The data is output to the tape recording / reproducing unit 205. The card recording / reproducing unit 204 records the video signal output from the camera signal processing unit 203 on a card 206 configured by a semiconductor memory or the like under the control of the control unit 200 described later, and the video signal recorded on the card 206 Are reproduced according to the control of the control unit 200. Here, the card 206 can record / reproduce both moving image data and still image data, and may include data including an audio signal.

  The magnetic tape recording / reproducing unit 205 records the video signal output from the camera signal processing unit 203 on the magnetic tape 207 according to the control of the control unit 200, and the video signal recorded on the magnetic tape 207 according to the control of the control unit 200. Reproduce. Data recorded / reproduced on the magnetic tape 207 is mainly a moving image, but may be a still image or data including an audio signal. In the present embodiment, the medium for recording / reproducing moving images or still images is a magnetic tape or card, but this can be combined in various ways such as an optical disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory. To do.

  The display signal generation unit 208 outputs the video output from the card recording / playback unit 204 or the magnetic tape recording / playback unit 205 to the EVF 209 and the liquid crystal monitor 210 under the control of the control unit 200. The EVF 209 and the liquid crystal monitor 210 display an image picked up by the image pickup device 202, an image reproduced from the card 206 or the magnetic tape 207, an image subjected to processing such as zooming processing by the control unit 200, and the like. In the present embodiment, the EVF 209 is a first image display unit, and the liquid crystal monitor 210 is a second image display unit. The liquid crystal monitor 210 is provided with a rotating unit 213 for opening and closing the liquid crystal monitor 210 by an operator's operation and rotating the liquid crystal monitor 210 to an expected state. Note that during normal shooting operation, the display on the liquid crystal monitor 210 is turned off when shooting using the EVF 209, while the EVF 209 is switched off when shooting using the liquid crystal monitor 210. The display is turned off. As an example, the display on the liquid crystal monitor 210 is turned on and off according to the rotation of the rotating unit 213, and the display of the EVF 209 can be turned on and off in accordance with the turning on and off. Specifically, referring to FIG. 5, when the liquid crystal monitor is closed, the display on the liquid crystal monitor is turned off and the display on the EVF is turned on. On the other hand, when the liquid crystal monitor is opened, the display of the liquid crystal monitor is turned on and the display of the EVF is turned off. In both cases, the moving image being photographed can be displayed on the display-on side.

  The operation unit 211 includes operation members such as buttons for performing various operation inputs, a touch panel, and the like. Alternatively, it may be performed using a UI such as line-of-sight input. The operation member 211 switches a switch between a camera mode for imaging a subject and a playback mode for reproducing a video signal recorded on the card 206 or the magnetic tape 207, a moving image recording start / stop instruction button, and a still image. Including a photo button for the purpose. Further, the operation unit 211 includes a manual focus ring, a zoom lever, and the like, and the lens driving unit 212 performs lens operation based on an instruction from the control unit 200 according to operations of the manual focus ring, the zoom lever, and the like (both not shown). The focus and zoom lens 201 is controlled.

The control unit 200 performs overall control of the imaging apparatus, and performs various controls as described above.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating some components of the control unit 200 that is a main component of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, only the components used for performing display control of the EVF 209 and the liquid crystal monitor 210 via the display signal generation unit 208 among the components of the control unit 200 are shown. Specifically, the control unit 200 includes a display switching unit 221, a still image setting unit 222, a still image display stop unit 223, and a timer 224.

  The display switching unit 221 detects and recognizes a predetermined image display trigger, and switches the display of the liquid crystal monitor 210 from off to on based on the image display trigger. For example, when the operator opens the liquid crystal monitor 210 from a closed state, the image display trigger is generated by the rotating unit 213 of the liquid crystal monitor 210. An image display trigger signal based on the image display trigger is output to the display switching unit 221. Further, the display switching unit 211 acquires a control signal from the operation unit 211 when the photo button of the operation unit 211 is pressed. When the photo button has been pressed at least once and the image display trigger signal has been acquired, the display switching unit 211 switches the liquid crystal monitor 210 from a display-off state to a state in which a captured still image is displayed. An image switching signal is transmitted to the display signal generation unit 208. The display signal generation unit 208 receives the image switching signal and starts displaying the still image reproduced on the liquid crystal monitor 210. In this case, the moving image being photographed is continuously displayed on the EVF 209. When a control signal due to the photo button being pressed is not acquired when the image display trigger signal is received, the display on the liquid crystal monitor 210 is switched from off to on to display the moving image during shooting. Start. In this case, the display of the EVF 209 is turned off from on.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the operator generates an image display trigger using an operation necessary for shooting like the operation of the rotating unit 213 and opens the liquid crystal monitor 210, a still image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 210. The structure which displays is taken. As a result, the operator can easily grasp both the moving image and the still image without worrying about an operation mistake or the like without feeling complicated operation.

  The still image setting unit 222 selectively sets whether or not to enable an operation for displaying a still image on the liquid crystal monitor 210. The setting of the still image setting unit 222 is performed, for example, by an operator's operation. Only when the setting for displaying a still image is made by the still image setting unit 222, the display switching unit 221 transmits an image switching signal to the display signal generation unit 208 based on the control signal by the image display trigger and the photo button. To do. On the other hand, if the still image setting unit 222 is set not to display a still image, the moving image being shot is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 210 even if the display switching unit 221 detects a control signal from the image display trigger and the photo button. An image is displayed.

  As described above, the present embodiment adopts a configuration in which whether or not to display a still image when the liquid crystal monitor 210 is opened by the still image setting unit 222 can be arbitrarily set. Thereby, for example, whether or not a still image display is desired is left to the operator's will, and moving images and still images that are easy to use are captured.

  The still image display stop unit 223 stops the display of still images on the liquid crystal monitor 210. The still image display stop unit 223 detects and recognizes a predetermined still image stop trigger, and stops the display of the still image on the liquid crystal monitor 210 based on the still image stop trigger. Here, in addition to or instead of using the still image stop trigger, the duration of the still image display is defined, and the still image display stop unit 223 stops the display of the still image as the duration elapses. You may make it let it. In the present embodiment, for example, a case where both a still image stop trigger and a duration are used together will be described. That is, in this case, a configuration is adopted in which the display of the still image is stopped when the still image stop trigger is detected and the duration time elapses, whichever is earlier. Of course, for example, a configuration in which the display of a still image is stopped by using only a still image stop trigger as an opportunity without using a duration time by an operator's operation, or vice versa may be employed.

  The still image stop trigger is generated by the rotation unit 213 when, for example, the operator closes the liquid crystal monitor 210 or when a button for stopping the display of a still image provided on the operation unit 211 is pressed. This still image stop trigger is transmitted to the display switching unit 221. The display switching unit 221 transmits a still image stop signal for stopping the display of the still image to the display signal generation unit 208. The display signal generation unit 208 receives the still image stop signal and stops the still image display on the liquid crystal monitor 210. Here, if the liquid crystal monitor 210 is closed, the EVF 209 continues to display the moving image being shot.

  The duration of the still image display is measured by the timer 224. This duration is made variable by, for example, an operator's operation on the timer 224. The display switching unit 221 transmits a still image stop signal for stopping the display of the still image to the display signal generation unit 208 based on the elapse of the duration time. The display signal generation unit 208 receives the still image stop signal and stops the still image display on the liquid crystal monitor 210. Similarly, the moving image is continuously displayed on the EVF 209 here.

  As a trigger for stopping the still image display, when the duration time is used as described above, or when the liquid crystal monitor 210 is not closed (in other words, the still image stop trigger is activated depending on the mode in which the liquid crystal monitor 210 is continuously used). When the control unit 200 stops displaying the still image, the liquid crystal monitor 210 displays the moving image being shot. Moreover, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a previously captured still image is displayed instead of displaying a moving image.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, whether or not to stop the display of the still image by the still image display stop unit 223 is triggered by the still image stop trigger, or automatically depending on the elapse of an arbitrary duration. A configuration such as stopping automatically is adopted. Thus, for example, it is up to the operator to decide whether or not to stop the still image display, or for example, when the operation is troublesome, it is automatically stopped, and further, both are used together. A rich and simple mode of use is realized.

In the control unit 200 configured as described above, components other than the timer 224 are realized by, for example, an MPU, a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, and the like.
The MPU can take the form of a microcomputer, and controls the entire image recording apparatus such as generation of recording data of the image recording apparatus, analysis of various commands, various settings, and a lens and a display unit.
The ROM stores a program corresponding to the processing procedure and the like, a required table, and other fixed data.

The RAM is an area for temporarily storing various settings, an area used as a work buffer for processing the recording data and expanding the recording data as necessary, and data input to an external interface (not shown) It has an area for temporarily storing commands and data output from the external interface and commands.
The EEPROM is a non-volatile memory having an area for holding a set value even when the power is turned off, such as a predetermined set time for turning off the still image display means after it is turned on.

(Control method of imaging device)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the control method of the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention in the order of steps. The flowchart of FIG. 3 illustrates the control operation performed by the control unit 200 based on the control program executed by the control unit 200. Here, the description will focus on the control of still image display by the liquid crystal monitor 210.
When shooting is started in a state where the operation for displaying a still image on the liquid crystal monitor 210 is set to be effective by the still image setting unit 222, it is first determined whether or not shooting is performed using the EVF 209 ( Step S11).
When the EVF 209 is not used, the moving image being photographed is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 210 (step S20). When using the EVF 209, the moving image being photographed is displayed on the EVF 209 (step S12), and it is determined whether or not the photo button has been pressed by the operator (step S13). If the photo button is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S15. If the photo button is pressed, a still image shot in a memory such as a RAM, a card 206, or a magnetic tape 207 is recorded or held (step S14). Proceed to step S15.
In step S15, when the display switching unit 221 detects a predetermined image display trigger, for example, a signal generated by the rotating unit 213 when the liquid crystal monitor 210 is opened, the display switching unit 221 determines that the display of the liquid crystal monitor 210 is started. When the display of the liquid crystal monitor 210 is not started, the process returns to step S13, and when the display is started, the process proceeds to step S16.
If it is determined in step S16 that the control signal obtained by pressing the photo button in step S13 is acquired, that is, it is determined that there is a still image stored in step S14, and the liquid crystal monitor 210 stores the still image. The still image being reproduced is displayed (step S17). In the still image display method in step S17, when there is only one stored still image, it is sufficient to display the full screen as it is. You may comprise so that it may become a form which displays an image by a photography order in a slide type. If there is no still image stored in step S16, the process proceeds to step S19.
In step S18, when the button for stopping the display of the still image provided on the operation unit 211 is pressed, or when the end of the display duration time is measured by the timer 224, it is determined that the still image display is stopped. . If it is not determined that the still image display is stopped, the process returns to step S17. If it is determined in step S18 that the still image display is stopped, the moving image display during shooting which has been displayed by the EVF 209 is stopped (step S19), and the moving image being shot is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 210 (step S20). ). This flow is a return. This flow can be forcibly terminated by operating a separate shooting stop button or the like. Note that, for example, when the operator closes the liquid crystal monitor 210 in step S18, the display itself of the liquid crystal monitor 210 is stopped, and the moving image display during shooting by the EVF 209 is continued.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, and should be adapted as appropriate according to the target circuit form.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a still image is captured during recording of a moving image, the still image is easily and clearly displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 210 while the moving image display by the EVF 209 is continued. Thus, an imaging apparatus that is highly reliable and easy to use is realized.

  Note that the program code in the flowchart of FIG. 3 can be realized by operating a program stored in a RAM or ROM of a computer. This program and a computer-readable storage medium storing the program are included in the embodiment of the present invention.

  Specifically, the program is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or provided to a computer via various transmission media. As a recording medium for recording the program, besides a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like can be used. On the other hand, as the transmission medium of the program, a communication medium (wired line such as an optical fiber or wireless) in a computer network (LAN, WAN such as the Internet, wireless communication network, etc.) system for propagating and supplying program information as a carrier wave. Line).

  In addition, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing a program supplied by a computer, and the program is used in cooperation with an OS (operating system) or other application software running on the computer. When the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, or when all or part of the processing of the supplied program is performed by a function expansion board or a function expansion unit of the computer, the function of the above-described embodiment is realized. Such a program is included in the embodiment of the present invention.

  For example, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a personal user terminal device. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1200 denotes a computer PC. The PC 1200 includes a CPU 1201, executes device control software stored in the ROM 1202 or the hard disk (HD) 1211, or supplied from the flexible disk drive (FD) 1212, and collects all devices connected to the system bus 1204. To control.

  Each procedure of steps S11 to S20 in FIG. 3 of the present embodiment is realized by a program stored in the CPU 1201, the ROM 1202, or the hard disk (HD) 1211 of the PC 1200.

  A RAM 1203 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 1201. A keyboard controller (KBC) 1205 controls instruction input from a keyboard (KB) 1209, a device not shown, or the like.

  Reference numeral 1206 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC) which controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 1210. A disk controller (DKC) 1207 is a hard disk (boot program (start program: a program that starts execution (operation) of personal computer hardware and software)), a plurality of applications, editing files, user files, a network management program, and the like. HD) 1211 and flexible disk (FD) 1212 are controlled.

  Reference numeral 1208 denotes a network interface card (NIC) that exchanges data bidirectionally with a network printer, another network device, or another PC via the LAN 1220.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration example of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the one part component of the control part which is the main components of the imaging device by this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a control method of the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention in order of steps. It is a schematic diagram which shows the internal structure of a personal user terminal device. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of an imaging device.

Explanation of symbols

200 Control Unit 201 Lens 202 Image Sensor 203 Camera Signal Processing Unit 204 Card Recording / Reproducing Unit 205 Magnetic Tape Recording / Reproducing Unit 206 Card 207 Magnetic Tape 208 Display Signal Generating Unit 209 EVF
210 Liquid crystal monitor 211 Operation unit 212 Lens drive unit 213 Rotation unit 221 Display switching unit 222 Still image setting unit 223 Still image display stop unit 224 Timer 300 Imaging device 310 EVF
320 LCD monitor 330 Operation member 340 Lens 350 Rotating unit 360 Mode switching means

Claims (2)

Imaging means for capturing an image of a subject;
First image display means for displaying a moving image captured by the imaging means;
Second image display means for displaying a moving image captured by the imaging means or a still image reproduced from a recording medium;
Trigger signal output having a rotating part that changes the direction of the second image display means in the rotation direction, and outputting a trigger signal when the open / closed state of the second image display means is changed by the operation of the rotating part Means,
When the second image display means changes from a closed state to an open state, the display of the first image display means is turned off, the display of the second image display means is turned on, and the second image display means is turned on. When the second image display means changes from an open state to a closed state, the trigger is set to turn off the display of the second image display means and turn on the display of the first image display means. have a display switching means for switching a display state in response to the signal,
A still image was captured and recorded on the recording medium while the second image display unit was closed and the moving image was captured while the display of the first image display unit was turned on. In this case, when the second image display means changes from a closed state to an open state, the display switching means does not turn off the display of the first image display means. When the display of the means is turned on and the second image display means displays the still image reproduced from the recording medium and then receives a still image display stop command or when a predetermined time has elapsed. An imaging apparatus characterized in that the display of the first image display means is turned off and the display of the second image display means is switched to a moving image . Whether or not the display switching means displays the still image reproduced from the recording medium on the second image display means when the second image display means changes from a closed state to an open state . The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a still image setting unit that selectively sets the image.

Images