JP4972202B2 - Imaging apparatus, control method, and user interface display apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device, a control method, and a display device for a user interface, and more specifically, an imaging device and a control method capable of setting a focus correction value for correcting a defocus amount detected by a focus detection unit, and a user Regarding the interface.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a camera that corrects a defocus amount detected by an automatic focus detection device of a camera by a user operation.

  As an example of this type of camera, for example, the following camera is proposed in Patent Document 1. First, the user operates an operation member provided in the camera, and sets a focus correction value while checking a display screen on which the focus shift amount correction value changes in conjunction with the operation. Then, the set focus correction value is stored in the nonvolatile memory in association with the individual information including the manufacturing number of the lens unit. When a lens unit with matching individual information is mounted, the corresponding focus correction value is read from the nonvolatile memory, and the focus shift amount is corrected.

JP 2005-227639 A

  In the camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, a focus shift correction value can be set by attaching a lens unit. There is a recognition that the user has set a focus correction value for the lens unit that is mounted. This is based on the premise that the user knows the mounted lens unit.

  However, the lens unit to which the user is attached may not be identified, and the focus correction value is usually set while viewing the display screen displayed on the display device installed on the back of the camera. For this reason, it is difficult to make a setting suitable for the lens unit mounted by looking only at the information displayed on the display screen. In this case, there is a problem that it is difficult to confirm that the focus correction value has been set with the mounted lens unit, resulting in a photographing result in which correction unintended by the user is applied.

  In addition, the setting information cannot be known when the photographed image is viewed. Therefore, it is not possible to know how much the image was taken with the correction applied, and the user can receive information to determine whether the focus correction value should be set again when the next shot is taken to obtain the intended result. There is a problem of not presenting.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an imaging apparatus according to the present invention, which can be mounted by exchanging a plurality of lens units, is mounted with recording means for recording image data obtained by imaging. Acquisition means for acquiring the open F value of the lens unit and lens individual information from the lens unit, detection means for detecting the amount of defocus for the mounted lens unit, and defocus detected by the detection means The display means for displaying the correction amount for correcting the amount so as to be selectable in units of scales, the operation member operated by the user, and the scale value selected according to the operation on the operation member, A controller that corrects the defocus amount detected by the detection means with a correction amount corresponding to the set scale value and the acquired open F value. Over La is, the lens individual information obtained from the information and the mounted lens unit representative of the set scale values by recording in the recording means in association with the image data obtained by the imaging The user can check the set scale value and the individual lens information when displaying the image of the image data recorded and recorded .

  In an imaging device that can be mounted by replacing multiple lens units, check the lens unit that is mounted when setting the focus correction value to correct the defocus amount on the focus correction value setting screen. Can do.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the camera in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the focus detection principle of a phase difference system. It is a flowchart which shows the setting procedure of the focus correction value in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen of the focus correction value in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the setting screen of the focus correction value in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the camera in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the setting list screen of the focus correction value in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the setting procedure of the focus correction value in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which selects the setting mode of the focus correction value in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen of the focus correction value in 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a single-lens reflex camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 127 denotes a camera body, and 116 denotes a lens unit that can be attached to and detached from the camera body 127. The camera body 127 can be replaced with a plurality of different lens units as well as the lens unit 116, and the lens unit 116 shows one example.

  Reference numeral 101 denotes a photographic lens, and 112 denotes an imaging element such as a CCD or CMOS sensor that forms a subject optical image that has passed through the photographic lens 101, and is obtained by converting the charge into an electric charge according to the amount of light of the formed subject optical image. The obtained image signal is output.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes a main mirror having a semi-transmissive portion. The main mirror 102 is retracted to the photographing optical path at the time of photographing, is obliquely installed in the photographing optical path at the time of detecting the focus, and FIG. The main mirror 102 guides a part of the light beam that has passed through the photographing lens 101 to a finder optical system including the focusing plate 103, the pentaprism 104, and the eyepiece lens 105 while being obliquely provided in the photographing optical path.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a sub-mirror that can be folded and expanded with respect to the main mirror 102 in synchronization with the operation of the main mirror 102. A part of the light beam that has passed through the semi-transmissive portion of the main mirror 102 is reflected downward by the sub-mirror 106 and enters the phase difference type focus detection device 107 to detect the in-focus state of the photographing lens 101.

  FIG. 2 is an optical path diagram for explaining the principle of detecting the focus state by the focus detection device 107, and shows the components developed on the optical axis of the photographic lens 101. However, the main mirror 102 and the sub mirror 106 are omitted. In FIG. 2, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The focus detection apparatus 107 includes a field lens 129, a diaphragm 130 having a pair of openings, a pair of secondary imaging lenses 131, and an image sensor 132 including a pair of photoelectric conversion element arrays.

  A light beam emitted from one point on the optical axis 101 a passes through the photographing lens 101 and forms an image on the image sensor 112, and at the same time, the image sensor 132 through the field lens 129, the diaphragm 130, and the secondary imaging lens 131. Images are formed at a certain interval on the top.

  The field lens 129 is disposed so as to form an image near the pupil 101b of the photographing lens 101 and the entrance pupil of the pair of secondary imaging lenses 131, that is, in the vicinity of the stop 130. Corresponding to the pair of openings of the diaphragm 130, the pupil 101b of the photographing lens 101 is divided in the vertical direction in the figure.

  In such a configuration, for example, when the photographing lens 101 is extended to the left in the drawing and a light beam forms an image to the left from the image sensor 112, the pair of images on the image sensor 132 is displaced in the direction of the arrow a. By detecting the relative shift amount of the pair of images by the image sensor 132, it is possible to detect the in-focus state of the photographic lens 101 and further perform focus adjustment driving of the photographic lens 101. When the photographing lens 101 is retracted to the right in the figure, the pair of images on the image sensor 132 is displaced in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow a in the figure.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the camera body 127 includes a system controller 126 including a CPU that controls the entire camera, and appropriately controls the operation of each unit described below.

  The system controller 126 is connected to a focus detection circuit 108 connected to the image sensor 132, a mirror drive circuit 109 for driving the main mirror 102, and a shutter control circuit 110 for controlling the focal plane shutter 111. . The focus detection circuit 108 and the focus detection device 107 described above constitute detection means for detecting the focus shift amount.

  Further, a lens driving circuit 114 for driving a lens driving motor 113 for driving the motor to adjust the focus of the photographing lens 101 is connected to the system controller 126 via a lens mount (not shown). In addition, a lens communication circuit 115 that performs communication between the lens unit 116 and the camera body 127 is connected. The lens communication circuit 115 analyzes the communication command transmitted from the system controller 126 and transmits lens information corresponding to the communication command to the camera body 127. This communication command includes a command for acquiring individual lens information that is information unique to the lens unit 116. The lens individual information may include a lens name, and may include an extender name when the extender is attached to the camera body 127. As described above, the system controller 126 and the lens communication circuit 115 communicate to form an acquisition unit that acquires lens individual information.

  The system controller 126 is connected to an EEPROM 121 that stores parameters that need to be adjusted in order to control the camera.

  In addition, an image data controller 119 is connected to the system controller 126 to execute control of each device for image capturing and recording based on a command from the system controller 126. Connected to the image data controller 119 is an A / D converter 117 for converting an analog signal corresponding to the subject image that has passed through the photographing lens 101 output from the image sensor 112 into a digital signal. Further, an image processing circuit 118 that processes an output signal from the A / D converter 117 and a DRAM 120 that is used as storage means for temporarily storing image data are connected. Further, an image compression circuit 122 for compressing image data stored in the DRAM 120 and performing, for example, JPEG conversion is connected.

  The image data compressed by the image compression circuit 122 is recorded in an image recording device 123 that can be attached to and detached from the camera.

  The display circuit 124 is an example of display means, and displays image data sent from the image data controller 119 and a focus correction value setting screen (user interface) to be described later based on a command from the system controller 126. That is, the display circuit 124 and the system controller 126 constitute a user interface display device. The operation switch 125 includes operation members such as a switch and a release button for operating a camera operation mode, shooting conditions (focus correction value), exposure information (shutter time, aperture value, etc.). The system controller 126 instructs the display circuit 124 to display the above information in response to a user operation. That is, in this case, the system controller 126 plays a role of setting means.

  Next, a method for setting a focus correction value for correcting the focus shift amount in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a power switch that is one of the operation switches 125 is turned on, power is supplied to the camera body 127, and the system controller 126 starts the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S101, parameters that need to be adjusted to control the camera are read from the EEPROM 121. This parameter includes focus correction value registration information.

  In step S102, when the display switch of the focus correction value setting screen, which is one of the operation switches 125, is turned on, the process proceeds to step S103, and when it is not turned on, the setting of the focus correction value is ended.

  In step S103, it is confirmed whether or not a lens unit is attached to the camera body 127. This confirmation is performed because the focus correction value is registered for the individual lens information of the mounted lens unit, and it is necessary to mount the lens unit to set the focus correction value. If the lens unit is attached, the process proceeds to step S104. If the lens unit is not attached, the setting of the focus correction value is ended. At this time, a display for recognizing that the lens unit is not attached may be performed.

  In step S104, lens communication is performed to acquire individual lens information of the mounted lens unit. The individual lens information includes information such as a lens name and an extender name.

  In step S105, the system controller 126 searches the registration information of the focus correction value stored in the EEPROM 121 based on the lens individual information of the lens unit acquired in step S104. That is, in this case, the system controller 126 operates as a determination unit.

  In step S106, it is determined whether or not the focus correction value of the mounted lens unit is registered as a result of the search in step S105. If it is registered, the process proceeds to step S107, and the focus correction value is read from the EEPROM 121 and step S108 is executed. Proceed to On the other hand, if the focus correction value of the mounted lens unit is not registered, the process proceeds directly to step S108.

  In step S108, for example, a focus correction value setting screen (user interface) as shown in FIG. 4 or 5 is displayed. The information displayed in the example shown in FIG. 4 includes the lens unit name 201a, the scale 202 for setting the focus correction value, and the registration number 203 in the individual lens information. A set button 204 for performing new registration and changing registered contents is also displayed. When the extender is attached, the extender name 201b is also displayed as shown in FIG. 5 based on the extender name information acquired in step S104.

  Here, one scale of the focus correction value 202 is determined by obtaining the open F value of the lens unit in step S104 and determining the depth of field obtained by the product of the open F value and the allowable circle of confusion (scaling). . In the present embodiment, when the open F value is small and the depth of field is shallow, the focus shift amount for one scale of the focus correction value 202 is smaller than when the depth of field is deep. If the depth of field is shallow, shifting it by the same amount as when it is deep may result in a large shift outside the depth if the depth of field is shallow, even if the amount of shift is within the depth. Because. This scaling may be an absolute amount that does not depend on the lens unit. For example, the focus is shifted by 10 mm per graduation regardless of what lens is attached. In this case, the focus shift amount can be determined with the user's sense.

  Such scaling for determining one scale of the focus correction value 202 can be performed by the system controller 126 (scaling means). The unit of the focus correction value stored in the EEPROM 121 may be an amount determined by the depth of field obtained by the product of the open F value and the permissible circle of confusion for each lens unit, or an absolute value that does not depend on the lens unit. It may be an amount.

  In the above description, the case where the EEPROM 121 is used as the storage means for storing the individual lens information and the focus correction value is described. However, the storage means is not limited to the EEPROM 121 and may be stored in an internal memory (not shown) or recorded in the image recording device 123. However, it is preferable to store in a storage medium that can retain the stored contents even after the camera body 127 is powered off.

  Moreover, the setting screens of FIGS. 4 and 5 are examples, and the present invention is not limited to the setting screens shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the lens individual information, the focus correction value, and the focus correction value are changed. It suffices if some kind of index is displayed. These displays can be achieved, for example, by storing a computer program for displaying the setting screen in the EEPROM 121 or the like, executing the program by the system controller 126, and controlling the display circuit 124. Therefore, the computer program, the system controller 126, and the display circuit 124 constitute a unique information display unit, a correction value display unit, and an index display unit.

  In step S109, it is determined whether or not the focus correction value has been changed by a focus correction value change switch, which is one of the operation switches 125. If updated, the process proceeds to step S110, and if not updated, the process proceeds to step S112.

  In step S110, it is determined whether or not to register a change in focus correction value. This determination is made according to whether or not the set button 204 shown in FIG. 4 or 5 is pressed. When the set button 204 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S111, and the focus correction value is stored in the EEPROM 121 in association with the lens individual information of the lens unit. At this time, the registration number 203 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is incremented by one. Then, the setting of the focus correction value is finished. If the set button 204 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S112.

  In step S112, the state of the display switch on the focus correction value setting screen, which is one of the operation switches 125, is confirmed. If it remains on, the process returns to step S109 to repeat the above-described processing. When the display switch is turned off, the setting of the focus correction value is finished.

  Next, the flow of processing for correcting the focus shift amount and recording the focus correction value in the Exif information of the image in the automatic focus detection apparatus of the camera system of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S201, parameters that need to be adjusted to control the camera are read out. This parameter includes focus correction value registration information.

  In step S202, it is determined whether or not SW1 that is turned on by the first stroke operation (half-pressing operation) of the release button, which is one of the operation switches 125, is ON. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step S203. Is in a standby state.

  In step S203, the focus detection apparatus 107 detects the focus shift amount by the phase difference type focus detection described above. In step S204, the correction value of the defocus amount adjusted at the time of shipment from the factory stored in the EEPROM 121 with respect to the detected defocus amount, and further, as described above with reference to FIG. Correction is performed using the set focus correction value.

  In step S205, the focus shift amount corrected in step S204 is converted into a defocus amount, and further converted into the number of pulses for driving the focus lens, and the lens drive motor 113 is operated via the lens drive circuit 114. Drive.

  In step S206, it is determined whether or not SW2 to be turned on is ON by the second stroke operation (full pressing operation) of the release button. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step S207, and if it is OFF, the process returns to the focus detection in step S203.

  In step S207, the mirror driving circuit 109 retracts the main mirror 102 and the sub mirror 106 to the outside of the photographing light beam, and the image sensor 112 is exposed by the opening / closing operation of the shutter control circuit 110.

  In step S <b> 208, the image data controller 119 records the image signal output from the image sensor 112 via the A / D converter 117 and the image data onto the image recording device 123 via the image processing circuit 118. At this time, the system controller 126 adds and records the focus correction value and the individual lens information to the Exif information recorded in association with the image data. The image data and Exif information are one image file.

  Here, one unit of the focus correction amount recorded in the image file may be an amount determined by the open F value as described above, or may be an absolute amount independent of the lens unit.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the lens unit is attached to the camera body, the lens individual information including the name of the lens unit is acquired and displayed on the focus correction value setting screen. At the time of setting, the user can obtain necessary and sufficient information. Further, since the focus correction value information can be obtained even when the photographed image is viewed, it is possible to obtain the result intended by the user by reflecting the information in the next photographing.

  In addition, when the extender is attached, by adding the extender name to the individual lens information, the focus correction value setting and the lens unit name are distinguished from when the extender is attached and when it is not attached. Can be displayed. Therefore, it is possible to cope with a change in photographing conditions due to the attachment of the extender.

  Here, since a plurality of focus correction values can be registered for each individual lens information of the lens unit, the registration information can be displayed in a list as shown in FIG. However, the focus correction value can be newly registered or changed only for the mounted lens unit. In the figure, reference numeral 301 denotes a confirmation button for exiting the list display.

  Furthermore, since Exif information is recorded in the image file, it is possible to output a focus correction value and individual lens information when printing out the image file. Thereby, the user can check whether the image is the result of photographing with which lens unit and with what focus correction value even when viewing the image.

  In addition, since the focus correction value and the individual lens information are added to the Exif information of the image file and recorded in the image storage device that can be attached to and detached from the camera, the device that can be equipped with not only the camera but also the image storage device, for example, a PC ( (Personal computer) can be used for display. Even with these devices, the user can check which lens unit is the result of shooting with what focus correction value.

  Therefore, since the focus correction value can be confirmed not only at the time of setting but also from the captured image file, it is intended that the focus correction value be set again at the next shooting while viewing the result of the captured image. Information for determining whether a result can be obtained can be presented to the user.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, the second embodiment will be described.

  In the second embodiment, a description will be given of a case where there are a plurality of modes for setting the focus correction value and the setting is performed according to the mode. Hereinafter, the processing in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the imaging apparatus of the second embodiment has the same configuration as that described with reference to FIG. 1 in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted here. Further, in FIG. 8, the same processes as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  When a power switch, which is one of the operation switches 125, is turned on, power is supplied to the camera body 127, and the system controller 126 starts the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. In step S101, parameters that need to be adjusted to control the camera are read from the EEPROM 121. This parameter includes focus correction value registration information.

  In step S102, when the display switch of the focus correction value setting screen, which is one of the operation switches 125, is turned on, the process proceeds to step S301, and when it is not turned on, the setting of the focus correction value is ended.

  In step S301, a selection screen as shown in FIG. In the screen shown in FIG. 9, 0 is a mode in which the focus correction value is not adjusted (hereinafter referred to as “mode 0”), and 1 is a mode in which adjustment is performed uniformly (hereinafter referred to as “mode”) regardless of the lens unit mounted. 1 ”). Reference numeral 2 denotes a mode for adjusting the focus correction value in accordance with the lens unit (hereinafter referred to as “mode 2”).

  In step S302, the focus correction value setting mode is selected, and if mode 0 is selected, no adjustment is performed, so the setting of the focus correction value is terminated. When mode 2 is selected, the processing in steps S103 to S112 is performed as described in the first embodiment, and the setting of the focus correction value is completed. On the other hand, if mode 1 is selected, the process proceeds to step S108 to display a focus correction value setting screen. However, in mode 1, since the adjustment is performed uniformly regardless of the lens unit, a screen as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. In mode 2, the focus correction value cannot be adjusted unless the lens unit is attached. In mode 1, the focus correction value can be adjusted even if the lens unit is not attached. This is because mode 1 does not require lens unit information because mode 1 makes adjustments regardless of the lens unit mounted, while mode 2 requires lens unit information. In this way, in mode 2, it is possible to avoid erroneous input due to adjustment even though the lens unit is not attached. In mode 1, the user can make adjustments in a timely manner without mounting the lens unit. Therefore, when mode 1 is selected, the focus correction value is displayed regardless of the lens unit mounted. On the other hand, when mode 2 is selected, the focus correction value is not displayed when the lens unit is not mounted. Displays the focus correction value when attached.

Claims (5)

An imaging device that can be mounted by replacing a plurality of lens units,
Recording means for recording image data obtained by imaging;
Obtaining means for obtaining an open F value of the lens unit and individual lens information from the mounted lens unit;
Detecting means for detecting a defocus amount for the mounted lens unit;
Display means for selectively displaying a correction amount for correcting the defocus amount detected by the detection means in units of scales;
An operation member operated by a user;
The scale value selected according to the operation on the operation member is set, and the defocus amount detected by the detection means is corrected with the correction value according to the set scale value and the acquired open F value. And a controller to
By the controller records the lens individual information obtained from the information and the mounted lens unit representative of the set scale values, in the recording means in association with the image data obtained by the imaging An image pickup apparatus characterized in that a user can check the set scale value and the individual lens information when displaying an image of the image data recorded by imaging. Lens and individual information obtained by the pre-Symbol acquisition means, storage means for storing in association with information representing the set scale values by the controller,
A determination means for determining whether a scale value corresponding to the lens individual information newly acquired by the acquisition means is stored in the storage means when the lens unit is replaced;
When it is determined by the determining means that the information is stored, prior to setting the scale value, the display means reads the scale value corresponding to the lens individual information from the storage means, and the acquired open F value The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein display is made in a selectable manner in units of scales determined according to. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the individual lens information includes a name of a lens unit. A method for controlling an imaging apparatus that can be mounted by replacing a plurality of lens units,
An acquisition step of acquiring an open F value of the lens unit and individual lens information from the mounted lens unit;
A detection step of detecting a defocus amount of the mounted lens unit;
A display step of displaying a correction amount for correcting the defocus amount detected in the detection step so as to be selectable in units of scales;
The scale value selected according to the operation of the operation member by the user is set, and the defocus amount detected by the detection means with the correction value according to the set scale value and the acquired open F value is set. A control process to be corrected;
The lens individual information obtained from the information and the mounted lens unit representative of the set scale values by recording in the recording means in association with the image data obtained by the imaging, and the imaging A control method comprising: a recording step that allows a user to confirm the set scale value and the individual lens information when displaying an image of the recorded image data . A storage step of storing the acquired lens individual information in the previous SL acquiring step, in the storage means in association with the information indicating the set scale values in said control step,
A determination step of determining whether a scale value corresponding to the lens individual information newly acquired in the acquisition step is stored in the storage means when the lens unit is replaced;
When it is determined that it is stored in the determination step, the display unit reads a scale value corresponding to the lens individual information from the storage unit, and is determined according to the obtained open F value 5. The control method according to claim 4, wherein display is performed so that selection is possible.

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