JP4981324B2 - Remote control device and remote control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control device and a remote control method, and more particularly to a technique suitable for use in photographing an image pickup device remotely.

  Recently, remote shooting is widely performed by connecting an imaging device such as a digital camera to a personal computer (camera and personal computer). Thus, by performing remote shooting, it is possible to take a large number of photos according to the disk capacity of the personal computer without worrying about the capacity of the memory card.

  In addition, when performing remote shooting, there is also disclosed a device that enables more operability than operating the camera itself while performing remote shooting by using a dedicated control device, a so-called remote controller (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

JP-A-11-176286

  By the way, in general, when shooting with a digital camera or a silver halide camera, the release button is half-pressed to be used as a trigger for distance measurement, AF control, AE control, and the like.

  However, when the camera is connected to a personal computer and remote shooting is performed on the personal computer side, the release cannot be half-pressed. Therefore, when AF control or AE control is performed, shooting is performed thereafter. Will go up.

  In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention can perform full-press and half-press with one operation means on the image-pickup device and the remote control device side at the time of remote shooting where the image-pickup device and the remote control device are connected. The purpose is to do.

The remote control device of the present invention is a remote control device for remotely controlling an imaging device, and includes an operation means, an operation symbol indicating the operation means, and a display means for displaying a command execution symbol for the imaging device. the by the first instruction operation to the instruction execution symbol to execute the shooting preparation on the imaging device, prior SL after the first instruction operation to the instruction execution symbol is performed, before the predetermined time serial and instruction second instruction operation imaging execution command the second finger示操work if made of the execution symbol, the second finger示操work before SL after a predetermined time has elapsed is If performed, the second instruction operation is received, and the imaging apparatus is caused to execute shooting preparation .

The remote control method of the present invention is a remote control method for remotely controlling an image pickup apparatus, and a display step of displaying an operation symbol indicating an operation means for operating the image pickup apparatus and a command execution symbol for the image pickup apparatus on a display device. has the instruction by the first instruction operation to perform symbol to execute the shooting preparation on the imaging device, after being performed the first instruction operation Previous symbol instruction execution symbols, a predetermined time the second finger示操operation and photographing execution instruction when the second instruction operation Previous symbol instruction execution symbol is performed within the SL before after a predetermined time has elapsed second instructions characterized in that makes running a shooting preparation on the imaging device receives the second instruction operation if the operation has been performed.

A program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute a remote control method for remotely controlling an image pickup apparatus, wherein an operation symbol indicating an operation means for operating the image pickup apparatus and an instruction execution symbol for the image pickup apparatus are displayed on a display device. after allowed to perform a shooting preparation on the imaging device, wherein the first instruction operation Previous symbol instruction execution symbol is performed by the first instruction operation to the instruction execution symbol has a display step of displaying, predetermined the second finger示操operation and photographing execution instruction when the second instruction operation Previous symbol instruction execution symbols within of time is performed, the predetermined time elapses after the previous SL second be the case where the finger示操operation has been performed, characterized in that to execute the processes of the remote control method causes execution of the shooting preparation on the imaging device receives the second instruction operation to the computer .

  According to the present invention, although it is a single button, it is possible to perform half-press and full-press, and after performing AF control / AE control, after confirming the state of focus, exposure, etc. It becomes possible to execute.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a remote control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a reading unit 100 is an imaging device configured by a known CCD element and has a function of reading an image. The input unit 101 includes a keyboard and a pointing device, and the user operates the input unit 101 to input data and instruct operation.

  The storage unit 102 stores binary data and metadata, and is composed of, for example, a hard disk. The display unit 103 displays binary data stored in the storage unit 102 or displays image data read by the reading unit 100, and is configured by a CRT or a liquid crystal panel, for example.

  The image input unit 107 is configured by an image input device such as a digital camera, and inputs a captured image and information at the time of shooting. The CPU 104 is involved in all processing performed in this embodiment, and the ROM 105 and RAM 106 provide a memory and work area necessary for the processing. In addition, a control program for realizing a processing procedure of the present embodiment described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 or 3 is stored in the ROM 105.

Next, a method for performing release in two stages by the remote control device shown in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In step S201, it is determined whether the release button is pressed. As a result of the determination, if the button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S202. If the button is not pressed, the process returns to step S201. That is, it waits until the release button is pressed.

In step S202, half-press control is started. Here, the half-press control is to perform distance measurement and photometry with a connected imaging device, and to perform AF (automatic focus) control and AE (automatic exposure) control.
Next, in step S203, it is determined whether the button has been released. If the result of this determination is that the button has not been released, processing returns to step S202 and half-press control is continued. If the button is released, the process proceeds to step S204.

  In step S204, it is determined whether or not it has been pressed again within a predetermined time. If the result of this determination is that the button has been pressed again after a time longer than a certain time, the process returns to step S201 to determine whether or not the release button has been pressed again. Push control is performed. If it is pressed again within a certain time, the process proceeds to step S205. In step S205, a release is performed to complete the shooting.

  By executing the above processing, one button can be released by pressing halfway and pressing once again within a fixed time after pressing and holding one button.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the above. In FIG. 4A, after half-pressing, pressing again within a certain time (T) realizes the operation of releasing half-pressed.
Further, in FIG. 4B, the operation of pressing halfway and pressing halfway again is realized by pressing again after a predetermined time (T) or more after halfway pressing.

  Here, since distance measurement, AF control, and AE control are performed during half-press control, this information is transferred to the connected remote control device to calculate the subject distance, depth of field, etc. May be displayed.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to perform half-pressing with one button, and AF, AE control can be performed, and focus, exposure, etc. can be confirmed. .

(Second Embodiment)
In the above-described first embodiment, it is necessary to press the button twice even when manually performing focus, exposure, and the like.
On the other hand, the second embodiment shows an example in which when the mouse is over the button, half-press control is performed so that the release can be performed with a single button operation even during a manual operation.

Next, the operation procedure of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.
In step S301, it is determined whether the mouse is over the release button. As a result of the determination, if the mouse is over, the process proceeds to step S302, and if not, the process returns to step S301. That is, it waits until the mouse is over.

  In step S302, half-press control is performed. Here, the half-press control is to perform distance measurement and photometry with a connected imaging device, and to perform AF control and AE control.

  Next, in step S303, it is determined whether or not the button has been pressed. If the result of this determination is that the mouse has not been pressed, the routine returns to step S301, where it is determined whether or not the mouse is over the release button. If it has been mouse over, half-press control is continued in step S302.

If the result of determination in step S303 is that the button has been pressed, processing proceeds to step S304.
In step S304, a release is performed and the shooting is completed.

  As described above, by half-pressing control with mouse over and releasing with mouse click, even if exposure and shutter speed are determined manually, release can be performed with one click and continuous shooting is performed. Will also be possible.

(Other embodiments)
Also, the object of each embodiment is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Perform some or all of the actual processing. Needless to say, the process includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

  Further, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU included in the function expansion card or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. Needless to say.

  When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 described above.

It is a block diagram which shows 1st Embodiment and shows the structural example of a remote control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows 1st Embodiment and shows an example of the procedure which performs half-press control. It is a flowchart which shows 2nd Embodiment and shows an example of the procedure which performs half-press control. It is a schematic diagram which shows 1st Embodiment and shows a half-press control method.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Reading part 101 Input part 102 Accumulation part 103 Display part 104 CPU
105 ROM
106 RAM
107 Image input unit

Claims (6)

A remote control device for remotely controlling an imaging device,
Operation means;
Display means for displaying an operation symbol indicating the operation means and a command execution symbol for the imaging device;
Wherein the first instruction operation to the instruction execution symbol to execute the shooting preparation on the imaging device, prior SL after the first instruction operation to the instruction execution symbol is performed, before the predetermined time Symbol the second finger示操operation and photographing execution instruction, the pre-post-determined time elapses before symbol second finger示操work row if the second instruction operation to the instruction execution symbol is performed In the case of a remote control device, the remote control device receives the second instruction operation and causes the imaging device to execute preparation for shooting . The imaging and Preliminaries, remote control device according to claim 1, wherein at least the automatic focus control is one of the automatic exposure control.   The remote control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation symbol is a display of a mouse pointer, and the instruction execution symbol is a display of a release button. A remote control method for remotely controlling an imaging device,
A display step of displaying an operation symbol indicating an operation means for operating the imaging device and a command execution symbol for the imaging device on a display device;
Wherein the first instruction operation to the instruction execution symbol to execute the shooting preparation on the imaging device, prior SL after the first instruction operation to the instruction execution symbol is performed, before the predetermined time Symbol the second finger示操operation and photographing execution instruction, the pre-post-determined time elapses before symbol second finger示操work row if the second instruction operation to the instruction execution symbol is performed In the remote control method, in response to the second instruction operation, the imaging apparatus is caused to execute shooting preparation in response to the second instruction operation. A program for causing a computer to execute a remote control method for remotely controlling an imaging apparatus,
A display step of displaying an operation symbol indicating an operation means for operating the imaging device and a command execution symbol for the imaging device on a display device;
Wherein the first instruction operation to the instruction execution symbol to execute the shooting preparation on the imaging device, prior SL after the first instruction operation to the instruction execution symbol is performed, before the predetermined time Symbol the second finger示操operation and photographing execution instruction, the pre-post-determined time elapses before symbol second finger示操work row if the second instruction operation to the instruction execution symbol is performed A program that causes a computer to execute each process of a remote control method that receives the second instruction operation and causes the imaging apparatus to execute preparation for shooting in the case of being interrupted.   6. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 5 is recorded.

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