JP5034148B2 - Electronic camera and camera system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic camera and a camera system capable of printing a photographed subject image at a specified magnification.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, after taking an image with an electronic camera, the taken image data is generally taken into a personal computer via a recording medium such as a memory card or a communication cable. The image captured by the personal computer can be printed using a printer. In that case, for example, printing can be performed by designating a print size and a print resolution by application software for printing.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if printing can be performed with a desired print size and print resolution, there is no appropriate method for printing a photographed subject at the same size (equal size) as the actual object or at a specified magnification.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera and a camera system capable of printing a subject image at the same size as a real object or at a specified magnification.
[0005]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera comprising: a zoom changing unit that changes a focal length of a zoom lens; an imaging unit that photoelectrically converts an object image projected onto an imaging region by the zoom lens; and a distance to the subject. A ranging unit to be detected; A size setting unit for setting a predetermined print size, a magnification setting unit for setting a print magnification, and a size of the shooting range at the subject position are fixed to a size obtained by dividing the predetermined print size by the print magnification. Mode setting means for setting to the specified range shooting mode and the specified range shooting mode Sometimes by the zoom changer Focal length of the zoom lens To the first and second focal lengths, Said First and second At each focal length, the reference image of a predetermined print size is Of the imaging unit When projected over almost the entire imaging area First and second reference image distances, which are distances to the reference image, are detected by the distance measurement unit, and the first and second focal distances, the first and second reference image distances, and the distance measurement are detected. Detected by Distance to the subject When The imaging range is projected on almost the entire imaging area of the imaging unit. For the zoom lens A focal length calculation unit that calculates a focal length; and a zoom control unit that controls the zoom change unit so that a focal length of the zoom lens matches the focal length calculated by the focal length calculation unit. It is characterized by.
Claim 2 An electronic camera according to the invention includes a zoom changing unit that changes a focal length of a zoom lens, an imaging unit that photoelectrically converts an image of a subject projected on an imaging region by the zoom lens, and a measurement that detects a distance to the subject. The distance part, The size of the shooting range at the position of the subject is fixed to a size obtained by dividing the predetermined print size by the print magnification. Mode setting means for setting to the specified range shooting mode and the specified range shooting mode Sometimes by the zoom changer Focal length of the zoom lens To the first and second focal lengths, Said First and second At each focal length, the reference image of a predetermined print size is Of the imaging unit When projected over almost the entire imaging area First and second reference image distances, which are distances to the reference image, are detected by the distance measurement unit, and the first and second focal distances, the first and second reference image distances, and the distance measurement are detected. Detected by Distance to the subject When The imaging range is projected on almost the entire imaging area of the imaging unit. For the zoom lens A focal length calculation unit that calculates a focal length; and a zoom control unit that controls the zoom change unit so that a focal length of the zoom lens matches the focal length calculated by the focal length calculation unit. It is characterized by.
Claim 11 A camera system according to the invention includes a zoom changing unit that changes a focal length of a zoom lens, an imaging unit that photoelectrically converts an image of a subject projected on an imaging region by the zoom lens, and a measurement that detects a distance to the subject. The distance part, The size of the shooting range at the position of the subject is fixed to a size obtained by dividing the predetermined print size by the print magnification. Mode setting means for setting the designated range shooting mode, and when the designated range shooting mode is set, The mode setting means sets the predetermined print size to a size obtained by dividing the print size by the print magnification. Shooting range And detected by the distance measuring unit. Distance to the subject When The shooting range is based on Of the imaging unit A zoom control unit that controls the zoom changing unit so that the image is projected almost over the entire imaging area; and a printing apparatus that prints an image shot in the designated range shooting mode in the same size as the predetermined print size. It is characterized by having.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
-First embodiment-
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a plan view of the electronic camera viewed from above, and FIG. 1B is a rear view of the camera viewed from the rear. As shown in FIG. 1A, on the upper surface of the electronic camera 1, a main switch 4 for turning on / off the power, a release button 5, and a command dial 6 for performing a switching operation between a recording mode and a reproduction mode. And a display panel 7 for displaying camera information. Here, the recording mode is a mode in which a subject image can be taken and the image data can be recorded, and the reproduction mode is a display LCD 3 (FIG. 1 (b) shown in FIG. This mode is for playback and display in ()).
[0008]
As shown in FIG. 1B, on the back of the camera, in addition to the display LCD 3 for image display, a zoom switch button 9 for zooming the viewfinder eyepiece window 8 and the photographing optical system 2 and various operation buttons. Is provided. The zoom switching button 9 is driven to the wide-angle side when the W side is pushed, and is driven to the telephoto side when the T side is pushed. In the recording mode, a subject image picked up by a CCD 214 (to be described later) is sequentially displayed on the display LCD 3. In the playback mode, thumbnail display of images stored in a recording medium 424 (to be described later), playback display of individual images, and the like are performed on the display LCD 3. Is called.
[0009]
Reference numeral 10 denotes a menu button for displaying a setting menu on the display LCD 3, and displays a setting menu when performing various settings, and selects an item to be set by the selection buttons 11a to 11d. When setting the print size, which will be described later, the buttons 10, 11a to 11d are operated to display the print size setting menu on the display LCD 3, and a desired size is selected from the plurality of print sizes displayed by operating the selection buttons 11a to 11d. Select a size. The electronic camera 1 according to the present embodiment includes a designated size shooting mode in which the size of a shooting range at a subject position is fixed to a selected print size, and a normal shooting mode corresponding to a recording mode of a conventional electronic camera. have. This mode switching is performed by the mode switching button 12. Details of each mode will be described later.
[0010]
FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the electronic camera shown in FIG. The ROM 443 stores a control program for the electronic camera 1. When the main switch 4 in FIG. 1 is turned on, the power source of the electronic camera 1 is turned on, and this control program is activated by the CPU 439. When the recording mode is set by the command dial 6 shown in FIG. 1, the electronic camera 1 can shoot. On the other hand, when the playback mode is set by the command dial 6, an image based on the image data recorded on the memory card 424 as a recording medium can be played back and displayed on the display LCD 3. In the recording mode, an image based on the imaging signal from the CCD 214 is displayed on the display LCD 3.
[0011]
The photographing optical system 2 has a plurality of lenses 201 to 204, and the focus adjustment operation is performed by a lens driving circuit 430. The focus adjustment operation by the lens driving circuit 430 is normally performed according to a command from the CPU 439. However, the focus adjustment operation can also be performed by an operation signal output when the distance ring 462 is manually operated.
[0012]
A shutter plate 208 and a diaphragm 215 are provided between the lens 203 and the lens 204 of the photographing optical system 2. The subject light incident on the photographing optical system 2 passes through the lenses 201 to 204, the shutter plate 208 and the diaphragm plate 215, and forms an image on the imaging surface of the CCD 214. The diaphragm plate 215 and the shutter plate 208 are formed in a disc shape, and are driven by step motors 415 and 408 provided at the center of rotation of the disc. The aperture plate 215 is provided with a plurality of aperture openings (not shown) having different aperture areas, and the aperture plate 215 is rotated by the step motor 415 to arrange any one aperture opening on the optical axis. .
[0013]
The shutter plate 208 is provided with a complete light-shielding portion (not shown) that shields all light beams that have passed through the lens 203 and an opening (not shown) that allows all light beams to pass through. At the time of exposure, the opening of the shutter plate 208 is set on the optical path, and the complete light-shielding part is set on the optical path upon completion of exposure. A step motor 415 that rotates the diaphragm plate 215 is driven and controlled by a drive circuit 453. A step motor 408 that rotates the shutter plate 208 is driven and controlled by a shutter drive circuit 454.
[0014]
When photographing, first, the electric charge accumulated in the CCD 214 is discharged, and a predetermined opening of the diaphragm plate 215 is set on the optical path. Then, when the CCD 214 is exposed for a predetermined time, charges are accumulated again. The time from when the electric charge is discharged until the light path is blocked by the complete light blocking portion of the shutter plate 208 again corresponds to the exposure time.
[0015]
When the subject image is formed on the imaging surface of the CCD 214 by the photographing optical system 2, signal charges corresponding to the intensity of the light of the subject image are accumulated. The CCD 214 is supplied with a horizontal drive signal from a digital signal processor (hereinafter referred to as DSP) 433 and a vertical drive signal from a CCD drive circuit 434 controlled by the DSP 433. That is, the timing of the CCD 214 is controlled by the DSP 433 and the CCD driving circuit 434, and a signal from the CCD 214 is input to the image processing unit 431.
[0016]
The image processing unit 431 includes a noise removal circuit, a direct current reproduction circuit, and the like, and performs analog processing such as noise removal and gain control on the image signal output from the CCD 214. The analog image signal output from the image processing unit 431 is converted into a digital signal by an analog / digital conversion circuit (hereinafter referred to as an A / D conversion circuit) 432. The converted digital image data is input to the DSP 433 described above.
[0017]
In the DSP 433, image processing such as contour compensation, gamma correction, and white balance adjustment is performed on the image data output from the A / D conversion circuit 432. Further, the DSP 433 controls the data bus connected to the buffer memory 436 and the memory card 424 to temporarily store the image data subjected to various image processing in the buffer memory 436, and then receives the image data from the buffer memory 436. The data is read, compressed in a predetermined compression format (for example, JPEG method), and recorded on the memory card 424.
[0018]
Further, the DSP 433 stores in the frame memory 435 image data after being imaged by the CCD 214 and subjected to the above image processing, and image data read from the memory card 424 and decompressed, and an image based on the image data is electronically stored. The image is displayed on a display LCD 3 provided in the camera 1. Further, the DSP 433 also performs data input / output timing management in the above-described recording of image data in the memory card 424 and recording of the captured image data after decompression in the buffer memory 436.
[0019]
The buffer memory 436 in which image data based on the output of the CCD 214 is temporarily stored is used to alleviate the difference in the input / output speed of image data with respect to the memory card 424 and the processing speed in the CPU 439, DSP 433, and the like. The The timer 445 incorporates a clock circuit, outputs time data corresponding to the current time to the CPU 439, and is also used as a timer for monitor on / off control described later. This time data is recorded on the memory card 424 together with the image data described above.
[0020]
The color measuring element 417 detects the color temperature of the main subject and its surroundings, and outputs the detected color temperature data to the color measuring circuit 452. The color measurement circuit 452 performs predetermined processing on the analog signal output from the color measurement element 417 to convert it into a digital value, and outputs the converted digital signal to the CPU 439. The interface 448 is provided to connect a predetermined external device (not shown) and transmit / receive data to / from the CPU 439 and the connected external device. Reference numeral 440 denotes a display circuit that controls the display panel 7 on which setting contents in the shooting operation are displayed. The display LCD 3 or the display panel 7 displays a print size described later.
[0021]
Next, the operation of the electronic camera 1 will be described. As described above, in the electronic camera 1, the switching operation between the recording mode and the reproduction mode can be performed by the command dial 6. The recording mode includes a normal shooting mode corresponding to the recording mode of a conventional electronic camera, and a specified size shooting mode in which zoom adjustment is automatically performed so that the shooting range at the subject position is the same as the set print size. And have. First, a normal shooting mode and a playback mode, which are operations similar to those of a conventional electronic camera, will be described.
[0022]
[Description of normal shooting mode]
The recording mode and the reproduction mode are selected by operating the command dial 6. When shooting, the command dial 6 is set to the recording mode and the main switch 4 is turned on, or after the main switch 4 is turned on, the command dial 6 is set to the recording mode. The image signal output from the CCD 214 is subjected to analog processing such as noise removal and gain control in the image processing unit 431, and then converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 432. The digitally converted signal is guided to the above-described DSP 433, where image preprocessing such as contour compensation and gamma correction is performed and temporarily stored in the buffer memory 436.
[0023]
Thereafter, image data is exchanged between the CPU 439 and the buffer memory 436 to obtain a white balance adjustment value from the image data, and the DSP 433 performs white balance adjustment based on this adjustment value. The image data after the white balance adjustment is stored in the buffer memory 436 again. The image data stored in the buffer memory 436 is processed into image data to be displayed on the display LCD 3 by the DSP 433. The processed image data is written into the frame memory 435 and displayed on the display LCD 3 as a photographic monitor image called a through image. The through image is sequentially updated at predetermined intervals based on subject light incident on the photographing optical system 2 by repeating the above operation.
[0024]
When a half-push switch (not shown) is turned on by half-pressing the release button 5, the focus adjustment state of the photographing optical system 2 is detected based on the contrast of the image data, and a focused subject image is formed on the CCD 214. A focus adjustment operation is performed by the lens driving circuit 430 so as to be imaged. When the release button 5 is pressed halfway, the CPU 439 detects the luminance of the subject from the image data, and performs an exposure calculation based on the detected luminance.
[0025]
The electronic camera 1 has a mode called “continuous AF mode” and a mode called “single AF mode” as focus adjustment operations. In the continuous AF mode, the focus adjustment operation is repeatedly performed regardless of the operation of the release button 5, and the focus is locked by half-pressing the release button 5. On the other hand, in the single AF mode, the focus adjustment operation is performed and the focus is locked only when the release button 5 is pressed halfway.
[0026]
If the release button 5 is further fully pressed following the half-press of the release button 5, a full-press switch (not shown) is turned on. As a result, after the signal charge accumulated in the CCD 214 is once discharged, the shutter plate 208 and the diaphragm plate 215 are driven based on the result of the exposure calculation, and imaging by the CCD 214 is performed.
[0027]
The image signal output from the CCD 214 by this imaging is subjected to the above-described series of processing and stored in the buffer memory 436. The image data stored in the buffer memory 436 is processed into image data to be displayed on the display LCD 3 by the DSP 433 and then written into the frame memory 435, and a captured image called a freeze image is displayed on the display LCD 3. The image data subjected to such image preprocessing is further compressed by the DSP 433, given a predetermined data name by the CPU 439, and time information from the timer 445 and a recording medium (PC card) such as a flash memory , CF card, etc.).
[0028]
The electronic camera 1 according to the present embodiment has an electronic zoom function, and can electronically enlarge an image by interpolating image data according to a set magnification Y. In response to a command from the CPU 439, the DSP 433 sets the electronic zoom magnification Y, and interpolates the image data according to the set magnification Y. The CPU 439 receives a zoom signal by operating the zoom switch button 9 and a half-press signal and a full-press signal by operating the release button 5, respectively.
[0029]
When the zoom switching button 9 is operated to the telephoto side (T), the CPU 439 drives the lens driving circuit 430 to optically enlarge the zoom magnification. When the optical magnification reaches a predetermined maximum value and the zoom switch button 9 is operated to the telephoto side (T), the electronic zoom magnification Y is determined according to the operation amount. When the electronic zoom magnification is Y, image data of a 1 / Y vertical / horizontal area centered on the center of the subject image is extracted. The DSP 433 performs predetermined image processing on the extracted image data, and further interpolates the luminance signal and the color difference signal calculated by the image processing in the vertical and horizontal Y times.
[0030]
[About playback mode]
When the playback mode is switched by the command dial 6, the image data recorded on the memory card 424 is read and stored in the buffer memory 436. Normally, the image data recorded last in the memory card 424 or the image data recorded first is read. The image data stored in the buffer memory 436 is read by the CPU 439, processed into image data for display by the DSP 433, and displayed on the display LCD 3 as a reproduced image. When no image data is recorded on the memory card 424, a message indicating that there is no image data is displayed on the display LCD 3.
[0031]
When the selection button 11a or 11c in FIG. 1 is operated while an image is being reproduced on the display LCD 3, the image data of the previous frame is read from the memory card 424, and the reproduced image is displayed on the display LCD 3. On the other hand, when the selection button 11b or 11d is operated, the image data after one frame is read and the reproduced image is displayed on the display LCD 3. As described above, the playback image is displayed on the display LCD 3 during the playback mode, but the subject image captured by the CCD 214 cannot be displayed as in the shooting mode. In the playback mode, focus adjustment operation and exposure detection related to shooting are not performed.
[0032]
[Description of specified size shooting mode]
Next, the designated size shooting mode will be described. As described above, in the designated size shooting mode, zoom adjustment is performed so that the shooting range is the same as the set print size. Hereinafter, the print size is denoted as S and the photographing range is denoted as W. In the electronic camera 1 of the present embodiment, a plurality of print sizes S are set in advance, and a desired size can be designated from them. Which size is set is determined by using the menu button 10 and the selection buttons 11a to 11d described above. Specifically, first, a menu for setting the print size is displayed on the display LCD 3 by the menu button 10. A symbol for each size is displayed in the print size setting menu, and the photographing range W is set to the selected size S by selecting one using the selection buttons 11a to 11d.
[0033]
For example, assume that the print size S is set to A4 size. In this case, when the release button 5 is pressed halfway, the photographing optical system 2 is driven so that the A4 size range in the subject is projected on the entire imaging region of the CCD 214. As a result, an image in the A4 size shooting range is displayed on the entire display LCD 3.
[0034]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a camera system that performs a process from subject photographing to printing of a normal size image. Image data captured by the electronic camera 1 is taken into the personal computer 20 via a memory card 424 that is detachable from the camera 1. Alternatively, the image data may be transferred from the camera 1 to the personal computer 20 via the communication cable 21, or the image data may be transferred to the personal computer 20 via a wireless or Internet line. A display monitor 22 and a printer 23 are connected to the personal computer 20. Driver software for driving the printer 23 is installed in the personal computer 20, and the resolution and print size S for printing an image can be freely set. Note that the image data may be directly input to the printer 23 without using the personal computer 20.
[0035]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a schematic procedure from photographing to printing of the camera system shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, steps S101 to S103 are procedures for photographing performed on the camera 1 side, and steps S104 to S107 are procedures relating to printing. The print size S is set in advance by operating the menu button 10 and the selection buttons 11a to 11d.
[0036]
In step S101, the mode switching button 12 is used to switch from the normal shooting mode to the designated size shooting mode. Although the print size S is set in advance as described above, it may be set when the mode is switched. Further, as described later (see FIG. 8), a mark 33 representing the print size S may be displayed on the display LCD 3 or the display panel 7 in the designated size photographing mode. In step S102, camera shooting is performed in the designated size shooting mode. In step S 103, header information and image data including the set print size S are recorded on the memory card 424.
[0037]
In step S104, the header information and the image data are read from the camera 1 to the personal computer 20 side, for example, by removing the memory card 424 from the camera 1 and mounting it in the personal computer 20 of FIG. In step S105, image processing is performed in accordance with the set print size S or a print resolution described later. The printer 23 is fed with a sheet having the same size as the print size S displayed on the display LCD 3 or the display panel 7 of the electronic camera 1. In step S106, the paper size used for printing is displayed on the display monitor 22. In step S107, the printer 23 prints the image at the same magnification.
[0038]
Next, the procedure on the camera side shown in steps S101 to S103 in FIG. 3 will be described in more detail with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing a processing procedure of a program executed by the CPU 439 of the camera 1. In step S201, it is determined whether or not the mode switching button 12 has been operated to switch to the designated size shooting mode. If it is determined in step S201 that the mode has been switched to the designated size shooting mode, the process proceeds to step S202. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S201 that the mode has not been switched to the designated size shooting mode, that is, if the normal shooting mode is set, the process proceeds to step S206 and a series of processing relating to the normal shooting mode is performed.
[0039]
In step S202, the photographing optical system 2 is adjusted to a predetermined macro position. That is, in the designated size shooting mode, the shooting range W of the print size S (for example, A4 size or B5 size) is projected on the entire imaging surface of the CCD 214, and the subject is very close. Set to macro position. In step S203, a display indicating the set print size S is displayed on the display LCD 3 or the display panel 7.
[0040]
Step S204 is a step of determining whether or not the user has canceled the macro mode using an operation member (not shown). If it is determined in step S204 that the release has been made, the process proceeds to step S206. If it is determined that the release has not been made, the process proceeds to step S205. In step S205, it is determined whether or not the release button 5 has been pressed halfway. If it is determined that the release button 5 has been pressed halfway, the process proceeds to step S207. If it is determined that the release button 5 has not been pressed halfway, the process returns to step S201.
[0041]
In step S207, the lens driving circuit 430 performs the focus adjustment operation of the photographing optical system 2, and calculates the distance L to the subject at that time. In step S208, the focal length f0 when the shooting range W of the print size S is projected on the entire imaging area, and the printing resolution k described later are calculated.
[0042]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the subject and the CCD 214, and an imaging range W having a size equal to the print size S is projected on the entire imaging area of the CCD 214. In FIG. 7, the symbol W indicating the shooting range is the longitudinal dimension of the shooting range at the subject position, that is, the horizontal dimension when the camera 1 of FIG. 1 is held upright, and the print size S (for example, A4 size). ). N is the number of pixels in the width direction of the imaging region of the CCD 214, and P is the pixel pitch. The relationship of the following formula (1) always holds among the focal length f0, the distance f ′ between the photographing optical system 2 and the imaging surface, and the subject distance L.
[Expression 1]
1 / L + 1 / f '= 1 / f0 (1)
[0043]
On the other hand, when the imaging range W of the print size S is projected on the entire imaging area of the CCD 214, f ′ in FIG. That is, the focal length f0 may be adjusted so that both the expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied.
[Expression 2]
f ′ / L = N · P / S
f ′ = (N · P · L) / S (2)
[0044]
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, since N pixels correspond to the dimension W (= S) (mm), when printing an image captured by the CCD 214 to the print size S, the print resolution at that time What is necessary is just to set k like following Formula (3). In step S208 described above, the focal length f0 is calculated from the equations (1) and (2), and the print resolution k is calculated by the following equation (3).
[Equation 3]
k = N / S (3)
[0045]
In step S209, it is determined whether the focal length f0 calculated in step S208 is larger than the longest focal length fmax on the telephoto side of the photographing optical system 2. In step S209, if it is determined that f0 ≦ fmax, the process proceeds to step S216, and if it is determined that f0> fmax, the process proceeds to step S210. When f0> fmax, even if the zoom is zoomed up to fmax, a range larger than the shooting range 31 of the subject image 30 is displayed on the display LCD 3 as shown in FIG.
[0046]
In step S210, it is determined whether (f0 / fmax) is greater than a predetermined electronic zoom magnification Mmax. In the following description, it is assumed that “magnification” is not an area magnification but a length magnification. If "(f0 / fmax)>Mmax" is determined in step S210, the process proceeds to step S211 to set the focal length f of the photographing optical system 2 to fmax and to set the electronic zoom magnification to Mmax. In step S212, as shown in FIG. 8B, the image of FIG. 8A is enlarged and displayed M times, and a frame 32 indicating the print size S is displayed in an overlapping manner. A mark 33 indicating the print size S is displayed in the upper left corner of the display LCD 3. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the print size S is A4 size, and the mark 33 “A4” is displayed.
[0047]
In step S213, a warning is generated to notify that the shooting range W that matches the print size S cannot be shot. For example, a warning sound is generated by a speaker (not shown) provided in the camera 1 or a warning is displayed on the display LCD 3 or the display panel 7. In the subsequent step S214, a print correction flag (described later) is set to 1, and then the process proceeds to step S218 in FIG.
[0048]
On the other hand, if “(f0 / fmax) ≦ Mmax” is determined in step S210, the process proceeds to step S215. In step S215, the image in the shooting range 31 centered on the center O of the display LCD 3 is enlarged by (f0 / fmax) times by the electronic zoom function. Since interpolation processing or the like is performed at the time of electronic zoom enlargement, the number of pixels of the enlarged image is equal to the number of pixels of the CCD 214. Therefore, the print resolution k may remain the value calculated in step S207. FIG. 8C shows an image displayed on the display LCD 3 when the image of the shooting range 31 is enlarged by (f0 / fmax) times. The image of the shooting range 31 of FIG. The entire display LCD 3 is enlarged and displayed.
[0049]
In step S216, it is determined whether or not the focal length f0 calculated in step S208 is smaller than the shortest focal length fmin on the wide side. If “f0 <fmin” is determined in step S216, the process proceeds to step S213, and if “f0 ≧ fmin” is determined, the process proceeds to step S217. If the process proceeds from step S216 to step S217, the print correction flag is reset to zero in step S217, and then the process proceeds to step S218 in FIG.
[0050]
On the other hand, if “f0 <fmin” is determined in step S216, the shooting range 31 is displayed as shown in FIG. 9 even if the focal length f0 is set to fmin which is the lower limit value of the shooting optical system 2. Only a part of the subject within the range 31 is displayed, which is larger than the LCD 3. That is, at the subject distance L at that time, only a range smaller than the shooting range 31 is projected onto the imaging region of the CCD 214.
[0051]
In step S218 in FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the release button 5 has been fully pressed. If it is determined that the release button 5 has been fully pressed, the process proceeds to step S219. If it is determined that the release button 5 has not been fully pressed, the process returns to step S205 in FIG. For example, when “f0 <fmin” is in the state as shown in FIG. 9, the focal length f0 calculated in step S208 is “f0 ≧ fmin” without pressing the release button 5 fully in step S218. Move away from the subject. At this time, if the release button 5 remains in the half-pressed state, the process proceeds from step S205 to step S207, and once the half-press is released, the process returns from step S205 to step S201.
[0052]
In step S219, an image captured by the CCD 214 is captured. In step S220, it is determined whether the print correction flag is 1. If determined to be 1 in step S220, the imaging range W is not projected on the entire imaging area of the CCD 214, so the process proceeds to step S221 and the print resolution k is recalculated. That is, when the process proceeds from step S210 to step S211, or when the process proceeds from step S216 to step S213, the print resolution k is recalculated so that the subject image is printed at the same magnification.
[0053]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S220 that it is zero, the imaging range W is projected on the entire imaging area, and the process proceeds to step S222 without recalculating the printing resolution k.
[0054]
When the process proceeds from step S210 in FIG. 5 to step S211, that is, when the focal length f is f = fmax and the electronic zoom magnification is Mmax as shown in FIG. When printing is performed at a print resolution k, the image displayed on the entire display LCD 3 is printed at the print size S and is not printed at the same size. Incidentally, the subject image in FIG. 8C is obtained by multiplying the subject image in FIG. 8A by (f0 / fmax), and the subject image in FIG. 8B is Mmax times the subject image in FIG. 8A. It is a thing. Therefore, when the image shown in FIG. 8B is multiplied by (f0 / fmax) / Mmax, the subject image in the frame 32 is displayed on the entire display LCD 3. Therefore, if the print resolution k calculated by the equation (3) is divided by (f0 / fmax) / Mmax and reduced as shown in the following equation (4), the subject image in the frame 32 is printed at the print size S. Will be.
[Expression 4]
k = (N / S) / {(f0 / fmax) / Mmax}
= (N / S) · (Mmax · fmax / f0) (4)
[0055]
When the process proceeds from step S216 to step S213, that is, when the shooting range 31 is larger than the display LCD 3 as shown in FIG. 9, it is necessary to increase the print resolution k. When the image in the range 31 in FIG. 9 is multiplied by (f0 / fmin), the size of the display LCD 3 is the same. That is, if the print resolution k calculated by the equation (3) is multiplied by (fmin / f0) as in the following equation (5), the image in the range 31 is printed with the print size S.
[Equation 5]
k = (N / S) · (fmin / f0) (5)
[0056]
Thereafter, in step S222, the image data is compressed in a predetermined format. In step S223, along with the compressed image data, the print size S, print resolution k, focal length f, subject distance L, number of pixels N, and the like are recorded in the memory card 424 as tag information. In this way, a series of processing from photographing to recording performed on the electronic camera 1 side is completed.
[0057]
When recording in the TIFF format, the print resolution k is recorded in units of image width resolution, image height resolution, and image width and height resolution defined by the tag numbers 282 to 284. The When recording in the Exif format, subject distance, lens focal length, focal plane height resolution, focal plane width resolution, focal plane resolution unit defined by tag numbers 37386, 37382, and 41486 to 41488 are used. The printing resolution k may be calculated in application software for recording and printing the information. Here, the focal plane resolution is the reciprocal of the pixel pitch P of the CCD 214.
[0058]
When printing this subject image, the image data is taken into the personal computer 20 of FIG. 3 and printed by the printer 23 connected to the personal computer 20 as described above. At this time, if the printer 23 is fed with the printing size S, the subject image is printed at approximately the same magnification. If the peripheral portion for printing is not printed as a margin, printing is performed slightly smaller than the same size. Even when a sheet larger than the print size S is fed, the same-size printing can be performed by setting the printing resolution equal to the printing resolution k stored as tag information.
[0059]
The first embodiment described above has the following features.
(A) When the designated size photographing mode is set in the electronic camera 1, the photographing optical system 2 is automatically adjusted so that the photographing range becomes the designated size. As a result, the subject LCD in the same range as that printed on the designated size paper is displayed on the display LCD 3. Therefore, since it is possible to take a picture while confirming the status of the print image, it is possible to take an appropriate subject image.
(B) If the subject distance is too far or too close, a frame 32 is displayed on the display LCD 3 or a warning is generated as shown in FIG. Can be easily recognized.
(C) When the image is printed, the subject image is printed in the same size as the actual object by feeding a print sheet having the same size as the print size displayed on the display LCD 3 or the display panel 7.
(D) Even when printing paper of the same size as the printing size displayed on the display LCD 3 or the display panel 7 is not fed, it is easy to make the same size by printing at the printing resolution k stored as the tag information. Printing can be performed.
[0060]
In the above-described first embodiment, the designated photographing range can be set to a plurality of sizes, but an electronic camera that is set in advance to a single size may be used. In this case, instead of displaying the print size on the display LCD 3 or the display panel 7, the print size may be marked at the position of the mode switching button 12. When printing, if the printing paper of the same size as this mark is fed to the printer 23, the same size printing can be automatically performed.
[0061]
<< Modification 1 >>
In the first modification, control is performed by replacing the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 with FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 10, the same processing steps as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same step symbols, and the steps S301 and S302 are different from those in FIG. The procedure following FIG. 10 is the same as that shown in FIG.
[0062]
In the first modification, when it is determined in step S201 that the designated size photographing mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S301, and the photographing optical system 2 is moved to the tele end of the macro area. By doing so, the depth of field of the lens becomes shallow, and the measurement accuracy of the distance L increases. As a result, the zoom magnification can be set with higher accuracy.
[0063]
If it is determined in step S216 that “f0 <fmin”, that is, even if the subject distance L is too small and the photographing optical system 2 is set to the wide end (f = fmin), the photographing range is as shown in FIG. If 31 is larger than the display LCD 3, the process proceeds to step S302, and pixels are thinned out so that the size of the photographed image is reduced to (f0 / fmin) times. If the thinning process is completed in step S302, the process proceeds to step S217 to reset the print correction flag to zero. That is, when the thinning process is performed in step S302, recalculation of the print resolution k is not necessary.
[0064]
<< Modification 2 >>
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a second modification, and is a flowchart of the same part as shown in FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 11, the processing when it is determined that “f0 <fmin” in step S216 is different. That is, if “f0 <fmin” is determined in step S216, the process proceeds to step S401, and the pixels of the captured image are thinned to ¼, and the distance L calculated and stored in step S207 is set to 2 · L. replace.
[0065]
When the pixels are thinned to ¼, the horizontal pixels of the image are thinned to ½, and the vertical pixels are also thinned to ½. As a result, the size of the printed image is halved in length, which is equivalent to doubling the subject distance L. When the process of step S401 is completed, the process proceeds to step S208, and the focal length f0 is calculated using the replaced new L. In the case of the modification 2, the pixels are thinned out to ¼ regardless of the size of the photographed image, so that it is simpler than the thinning process of the modification 1.
[0066]
-Second Embodiment-
In the first embodiment described above, the shooting range W is designated by the print size S, and the subject in the range W is printed at the same magnification, but in the second embodiment, the designated print size S is designated. The subject image is printed with Z magnification on the paper. When setting the print magnification Z, the menu button 10 is operated to display the print magnification setting menu on the display LCD 3, and a desired magnification is selected from the plurality of print magnifications displayed by the operations 11a to 11d. When the mode switching button 12 is used to switch to the designated size photographing mode, the photographing range W is set to a value obtained by dividing the designated printing size S by the printing magnification Z. A method for setting the shooting range will be described later. Other configurations of the electronic camera 1 and the camera system are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a control method in the case of Z-times printing will be described below.
[0067]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between the imaging range W and the CCD 214. Similar to the first embodiment, the relationship of the formula (1) is established among the focal length f0, the distance f ′ between the imaging optical system 2 and the imaging surface, and the subject distance L.
[Formula 6]
1 / L + 1 / f '= 1 / f0 (1)
[0068]
In addition, when the subject image is projected onto the print area of the print size S and projected onto the entire imaging region of the CCD 214, the print size S is set to (1 / as shown in FIG. Z) The imaged range W = S / Z multiplied may be projected onto the CCD 214. Therefore, the focal length f of the electronic camera 1 may be adjusted to a focal length f0 that satisfies both the formula (1) and the following formula (6). The printing resolution k is set as in Expression (3) as in the first embodiment.
[Expression 7]
f ′ / L = N · P / (S / Z)
f ′ = (N · P · L · Z) / S (6)
k = N / S (3)
[0069]
Since the general procedure from shooting to printing of the camera system and the procedure on the camera side are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted. However, the printing magnification Z is also stored as tag information in step S223 of FIG. In the second embodiment, when a sheet having the same size as the print size S set at the time of shooting is fed to the printer 23 during printing, a subject image with a magnification Z is automatically printed. Therefore, the subject image can be printed Z times very easily.
[0070]
-Third embodiment-
In the first and second embodiments described above, the print size S is input to the electronic camera 1, and the photographing optical system 2 is controlled based on the print size S. In the third embodiment, calibration is performed using the chart paper on which the printable range of the printer 23 is printed so that a shooting range W having a size equal to the printable range is projected onto the CCD 214. This calibration is performed, for example, after setting the electronic camera 1 to the calibration mode by operating the command dial 6 in FIG.
[0071]
When calibration is performed, a chart on which the printable range is printed is printed by the printer 23 in advance. Generally, the peripheral portion of the printing paper is a blank area that cannot be printed, and the rectangular area inside the blank area is the printable range. Therefore, for example, in the case of A4 size paper, a rectangular frame slightly smaller than A4 size is printed.
[0072]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a calibration procedure, which starts when the command dial 6 sets the calibration mode. In step S501, after the photographing optical system 2 of the electronic camera 1 is set to the macro area, the focal length is set to the maximum tele end (fmax). The user holds the electronic camera 1 facing the chart paper in the setting state in step S501.
[0073]
In step S502, the distance Lmax to the chart paper is measured. In step S503, the chart paper image captured by the electronic camera 1 is displayed on the display LCD 3. The user approaches or moves away from the chart paper so that the rectangular frame of the displayed chart paper matches the display frame of the display LCD 3. Then, when the rectangular frame of the chart paper matches the display frame of the display LCD 3, the release button 5 is fully pressed.
[0074]
In step S504, it is determined whether or not the release button 5 of the electronic camera 1 has been fully pressed. If YES is determined, the process proceeds to step S505, and if NO is determined, the process returns to step S502. In this calibration mode, when the release button 5 is fully pressed, the process proceeds to step S505 and only the focusing operation is performed.
[0075]
In step S506, after the photographing optical system 2 is set to the macro area, the focal length is set to the minimum wide end (fmin). The user holds the electronic camera 1 again on the chart paper. In step S507, the distance Lmin to the chart paper is measured, and in the subsequent step S508, the chart paper image is displayed on the display LCD 3. Also in this case, the chart paper approaches or moves away from the chart paper so that the rectangular frame of the chart paper and the display frame of the display LCD 3 coincide with each other, and the release button 5 is fully pressed at the coincidence.
[0076]
In step S509, it is determined whether or not the release button 5 has been fully pressed. If it is determined as YES, the process proceeds to step S510, and if it is determined as NO, the process returns to step S507. Next, after the focusing operation is performed in step S510, the distances Lmin and Lmin are stored in step S511, and a series of calibration processing ends.
[0077]
After the calibration, in the designated size photographing mode, the electronic camera 1 is controlled so that the focal length f0 of Expression (7) calculated based on the stored distances Lmin and Lmin is obtained. As a result, the shooting range W having the same size as the rectangular frame of the chart paper is projected on the entire imaging area of the CCD 214, and when the shot subject image is printed on the printing paper of size S, the same size printing is performed.
[Equation 8]
f0 = fmin + {(fmax−fmin) / (Lmax−Lmin)} · (L−Lmin) (7)
[0078]
By the way, in the first and second embodiments described above, the photographing range of the print size S is adjusted by adjusting the focal length f0 so that f ′ in FIG. 7 satisfies the following expressions (1) and (2). W was projected on the entire imaging area of the CCD 214. However, the error due to lens variation or the like is not considered in the equation (2), and when the equation (2) is rewritten more accurately using the error correction coefficient α, the equation (8) is obtained. That is, since the correction coefficient α is not considered in the first and second embodiments described above, the focus adjustment accuracy decreases accordingly.
[Equation 9]
1 / L + 1 / f '= 1 / f0 (1)
f ′ = (N · P · L) / W (2)
f ′ = (N · P · L) / (W · α) (8)
[0079]
However, in the third embodiment, the rectangular frame of the chart paper is actually projected onto the entire imaging area of the CCD 214, and the focal length f0 is calculated based on the data Lmin and Lmin at that time. f0 also includes the effect of lens errors. Therefore, it is possible to control with higher accuracy than in the first and second embodiments.
[0080]
In the embodiment described above, the electronic camera and camera system having both the optical zoom function and the electronic zoom function have been described as examples. However, the present invention is also applied to an electronic camera and camera system having only one of them. be able to. Further, the calculation of the print resolution k is performed on the camera side, but the calculation is performed on the printing means side based on the number of pixels N and the print size S captured from the camera side to the printing means (PC 20, printer 23) side. Also good.
[0081]
In the correspondence between the embodiment described above and the elements of the claims, the photographing optical system 2 is a zoom lens, the lens driving circuit 430 is a zoom changing unit, the CCD 214 is an imaging unit, the mode switching button 12 and the CPU 439 are The mode setting means, the print size S is a predetermined size, the menu button 10 and the selection buttons 11a to 11d are a magnification setting section and a size setting section, the frame 32 is a range display mark, the DSP 433 is an electronic zoom means and a thinning means, The display LCD 3 constitutes a display monitor and warning means, the printer 23 constitutes a printing device, and the CPU 439 constitutes a distance measuring unit, a zoom control unit, a focal length calculation unit, and an electronic zoom control unit.
[0082]
【Effect of the invention】
As described above, according to the present invention, by printing a subject image on a sheet having the same size as the predetermined size, it is possible to easily print an equal-sized image having the same size as the subject.
In the invention of claim 2, the subject image is printed on the printing paper of a predetermined size at the set printing magnification.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, based on a plurality of subject distances detected when a reference image of a predetermined size is projected on almost the entire area of the imaging area, a focus on which an object within the imaging area is projected on almost the entire area of the imaging area Since the distance is calculated, it is possible to eliminate the influence of errors due to variations in the zoom lens.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the range display mark is displayed on the display monitor together with the subject image, it can be easily recognized whether or not shooting is performed at an appropriate subject distance. Further, in the eighth aspect of the invention, since a warning is issued when the subject distance is not appropriate, the same effect as that of the fifth aspect of the invention can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B are diagrams showing a first embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view of the electronic camera as viewed from above, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the electronic camera 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a camera system.
4 is a diagram showing a procedure from shooting to printing in the camera system of FIG. 3; FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing in detail a procedure from step S101 to step S103 in FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure following FIG.
7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an imaging range W and an imaging area of a CCD 214. FIG.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing a subject image displayed on the display LCD 3. FIG. 8A is an image when f = fmax, and FIG. 8B is an image obtained by enlarging the image of FIG. , And (c) show images obtained by electronic zoom enlargement of the image of (a) by (f0 / fmax) times.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the photographing range 31 and the display LCD 3 when f = fmin.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of Modification 1;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a second modification.
12 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a photographing range W and a CCD 214 in the second embodiment. FIG.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a calibration procedure.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Electronic camera
2 Shooting optical system
3 Display LCD
10 Menu button
11a-11d selection button
12 Mode switch button
23 Printer
30 Subject image
31, W Shooting range
32 frames
33 mark
214 Imaging unit
430 Lens drive circuit
433 DSP
439 CPU
424 memory card
S Print size

Claims (11)

A zoom changer for changing the focal length of the zoom lens;
An imaging unit that photoelectrically converts an image of a subject projected on an imaging region by the zoom lens;
A distance measuring unit for detecting a distance to the subject;
A size setting section for setting a predetermined print size;
A magnification setting section for setting the print magnification;
Mode setting means for setting a designated range shooting mode for fixing a size of the shooting range at the position of the subject to a size obtained by dividing the predetermined print size by the print magnification ;
When the designated range shooting mode is set, the shooting range set to a size obtained by dividing the predetermined print size by the print magnification by the mode setting unit and the detection unit detects the range. An electronic camera, comprising: a zoom control unit that controls the zoom changing unit so that the shooting range is projected on substantially the entire imaging area of the imaging unit based on a distance to a subject. A zoom changer for changing the focal length of the zoom lens;
An imaging unit that photoelectrically converts an image of a subject projected on an imaging region by the zoom lens;
A distance measuring unit for detecting a distance to the subject;
Mode setting means for setting a designated range shooting mode for fixing a size of a shooting range at the position of the subject to a size obtained by dividing a predetermined print size by a printing magnification ;
When the designated range shooting mode is set , the zoom changing unit changes the focal length of the zoom lens to first and second focal lengths, and each of the first and second focal lengths has a predetermined value. The distance measuring unit detects first and second reference image distances, which are distances to the reference image when a reference image of the print size is projected almost over the entire imaging area of the imaging unit ,
Based on the first and second focal lengths, the first and second reference image distances, and the distance to the subject detected by the ranging unit , the imaging range is an imaging region of the imaging unit. a focal length calculating unit that calculates a focal length of the zoom lens of the order is projected substantially the whole area,
An electronic camera comprising: a zoom control unit that controls the zoom changing unit such that a focal length of the zoom lens coincides with the focal length calculated by the focal length calculation unit. The electronic camera according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The subject image based on the image information from the imaging unit when the focal length of the zoom lens is maximum and the size of the subject range projected on almost the entire imaging region is larger than the size of the shooting range An electronic camera comprising a display monitor for displaying a range display mark indicating a range substantially corresponding to the shooting range. The electronic camera according to claim 3 .
An electronic camera comprising a storage control unit that stores image information in a range indicated by the range display mark in a storage area. The electronic camera according to claim 4 ,
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the storage control unit stores the predetermined print size in the storage area in association with the image information. In the electronic camera in any one of Claims 1-5 ,
Electronic zoom means for electronically enlarging a part of a subject image based on image information from the imaging unit;
The subject image based on the image information from the imaging unit when the focal length of the zoom lens is maximum and the size of the subject range projected on almost the entire imaging region is larger than the size of the shooting range An electronic camera further comprising: an electronic zoom control unit that controls the electronic zoom means so that an image corresponding to a subject within the shooting range is enlarged to the same size as the subject image . The electronic camera according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
A warning means is provided that issues a warning when the focal length of the zoom lens is minimum and the size of the subject range projected on almost the entire imaging area is smaller than the size of the shooting range. Electronic camera. The electronic camera according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
Thinning means for electronically thinning out the subject image is provided when the focal length of the zoom lens is minimum and the size of the subject projected on almost the entire imaging region is smaller than the size of the photographing range. An electronic camera characterized by that. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
An electronic camera further comprising: a lens driving unit that adjusts the zoom lens to a macro position when the designated range shooting mode is set. In the electronic camera in any one of Claims 1-8 ,
An electronic camera comprising display means for displaying a mark representing the predetermined print size. A zoom changer for changing the focal length of the zoom lens;
An imaging unit that photoelectrically converts an image of a subject projected on an imaging region by the zoom lens;
A distance measuring unit for detecting a distance to the subject;
Mode setting means for setting a designated range shooting mode for fixing a size of a shooting range at the position of the subject to a size obtained by dividing a predetermined print size by a printing magnification ;
When the designated range shooting mode is set, the shooting range set to a size obtained by dividing the predetermined print size by the print magnification by the mode setting unit and the detection unit detects the range. A zoom control unit that controls the zoom change unit so that the imaging range is projected almost over the entire imaging area of the imaging unit based on the distance to the subject;
A camera system comprising: a printing apparatus that prints an image photographed in the designated range photographing mode in the same size as the predetermined print size.

Images