JP5034714B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus such as a camera capable of displaying an inclination.

  In photography using a camera or the like, in order to assist photographing in a state where the camera is leveled, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 below, a level or its display unit is provided in the finder. A single-lens reflex camera provided is disclosed. The photographer can correct the camera tilt while viewing the display on the level, and shoot in a horizontal state. However, providing a display for the level in the viewfinder adds to the size of the viewfinder. Since a dedicated display device for tilt display is provided, the cost increases.

  On the other hand, as disclosed in the following Patent Document 2, a horizontal auxiliary line whose inclination changes according to an angle based on an attitude detection device that detects the attitude of the camera is displayed as a real-time image that can be viewed from the outside of the camera. There has been proposed a technique in which the tilt of the camera can be adjusted by superimposing it on a liquid crystal monitor to be displayed.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 2, since the tilt is displayed using a liquid crystal monitor that displays a real-time image, the problem of enlargement of the finder and cost increase as in the technique described in Patent Document 1 can be solved. However, cameras such as single-lens reflex cameras that often shoot while viewing a subject through a viewfinder have a problem that the horizon cannot be adjusted for shooting.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and the object of the present invention is to adjust the tilt while visually checking the subject through the viewfinder without increasing the size of the viewfinder and increasing the cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus that can photograph.
JP-A-10-307323 JP 2002-271654 A

According to the present invention, in the photographing apparatus, a plurality of number indicators having a tilt detecting means (14) for detecting the tilt of the photographing apparatus and seven display segments capable of displaying numbers from 0 to 9 are arranged adjacent to each other. It is, an information display means for visibly displaying information related to a shooting through the viewfinder (13), or for displaying information about the shooting by the information display means, by replacing the display of some information about the shooting comprises a switching means (15) for switching whether to perform a display indicating the inclination selectively detected by said detecting means by the information display means, the inclination by the information display means in a state where the imaging device is tilted When displaying the inclination detected by the detecting means, the display segments at different locations are lit in the respective numeric indicators to detect the inclination. An imaging device is provided that displays the tilt detected by the exit means in two dimensions .

  In the description of this section, reference numerals indicating members and the like shown in the drawings showing embodiments to be described later are appended with parentheses, but this is merely for ease of understanding, and each component of the present invention Is not limited to the members shown in the drawings with the reference numerals indicating these members.

  In general cameras, segment-type information display means for displaying information relating to exposure and other shooting is often provided in the viewfinder or the like. In the present invention, such a segment type information display means is replaced with a part of the information relating to the photographing so that a display indicating the inclination detected by the detection means can be performed. There is no need to provide a dedicated display device for tilt display, which does not increase the size and cost of the viewfinder, and it can also be used as an information display device in the viewfinder while tilting while viewing the subject through the viewfinder. There is an effect that it is possible to shoot with adjusting the.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Schematic configuration of the camera)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. This camera is a single-lens reflex digital camera. However, the camera to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to a single-lens reflex digital camera, but may be a compact digital camera, an electronically controlled film camera, a video camera for recording moving images, or other cameras. Further, the present invention is not limited to a device generally called a camera, but can be applied to any electronic device having a photographing function.

  In FIG. 1, an image of a subject through the taking lens 1 is reflected upward by a quick return mirror QRM (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) in a mirror-down state, and a focusing screen (focus plate) FS, penta ( Dach) It is guided to the eyepiece window OW through the prism PEP and the like, and the photographer can visually recognize the image of the subject through the eyepiece window OW.

  When a release switch (not shown) is pressed (fully pressed), the quick return mirror QRM rotates in the clockwise direction in the figure and is retracted from the optical path of the photographic lens 1, and the image of the subject through the photographic lens 1 is Then, an image is formed on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 2 made of CCD or CMOS via the shutter SHT. The image captured by the image sensor 2 can also be displayed on the image display device 9 provided on the back surface of the camera CM.

  In the finder PEP, an exposure indicator for displaying the exposure level and information relating to photographing (for example, shutter speed, aperture value, etc.) can be visually recognized by the photographer outside the photographing region through the observation window OW of the finder PEP. In-finder display device 13 is provided. As the in-finder display device 13, a segment type liquid crystal display panel is used. In addition, as the in-finder display device 13, a segment type display device including a plurality of light emitting elements (LEDs, etc.) may be used.

(Control system configuration)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the digital camera CM according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a photographic lens, and reference numeral 2 denotes an image pickup device that converts an image of a subject formed through the photographic lens 1 into an electric signal and outputs it. Reference numeral 3 denotes an A / D conversion circuit that converts an analog signal output from the image sensor 2 into a digital signal, and reference numeral 4 denotes a timing generator (TG) that gives a timing signal for taking out an image signal to the image sensor 2. . Reference numeral 5 denotes an image memory that temporarily stores image data photographed by the image sensor 2 and A / D converted by the A / D conversion circuit 3.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes an image processing circuit that performs various types of image processing on the image data stored in the image memory 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a compression circuit that compresses image data processed by the image processing circuit 6 using a method such as JPEG. Reference numeral 8 denotes a display circuit that performs processing for displaying a captured image and other information. These image processing circuit 6, compression circuit 7 and display circuit 8 constitute an image processing block. An image display device 9 includes a dot matrix type liquid crystal panel such as a TFT for displaying data such as an image generated by the display circuit 8 and various setting menus. A memory 10 temporarily stores image data.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a single recording medium or a plurality of recording media for storing image data. The recording medium 11 is a memory card that is detachably attached to a card slot (not shown) provided in the camera CM. Reference numeral 12 denotes a CPU (microprocessor or the like) for overall control of the camera CM, and reference numeral 13 denotes the above-mentioned display device in the viewfinder.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a tilt sensor provided in the camera CM, and this tilt sensor is detection means for detecting the tilt of the camera CM. As the tilt sensor, any sensor can be used as long as it can detect the tilt of the camera CM. Here, an acceleration sensor is used. The acceleration sensor may be of any type such as a capacitance type or a thermo type.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes an operation member provided on the camera CM, which includes a main switch for turning on / off the main power, a release button, a command dial, a menu button, an item selection cross key, an OK button (decision button), a display switching button, and the like. Is included. The display switching button is a button that is operated when tilt display described later is performed.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes an information display device for displaying exposure information and other information related to photographing, similar to the in-finder display device 13, and is composed of a segment type liquid crystal panel or the like. This information display device is provided on the upper surface (shoulder portion) or rear surface of the camera CM.

  Note that the processing related to image storage from shooting by the camera CM is already known, and therefore the description thereof is omitted here.

(Viewer display)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the in-finder display displayed by the in-finder display device 13. In the figure, PA is a shooting area, and the shooting area PA is an area where an optical image via the shooting lens 1 is displayed. In the example of the figure, an exposure indicator 20 for displaying an exposure level (state) displayed by the in-finder display device 13 is arranged on the right side of the shooting area PA.

  Further, an information indicator having a shutter speed indicator 31 for displaying the shutter speed displayed by the in-finder display device 13 and an aperture value indicator 32 for displaying the aperture value is arranged below the photographing area PA. ing. The arrangement of the exposure indicator 20 and the information indicators 31 and 32 is not limited to this, and may be arranged on the upper side or the left side of the imaging area PA. Further, the exposure indicator 20 and the information indicators 31 and 32 may be arranged in two rows vertically or horizontally and arranged outside any one side of the imaging area PA.

  The exposure indicator 20 includes a plurality of display segments 21 and 22 arranged in a straight line (up and down in a line), and in the example of the figure, 13 rectangular displays including a center display segment 22 located in the center. Each of the segments has an arrangement having triangular display segments at both end portions (upper and lower end portions). The display segment 21 corresponds to a scale corresponding to the exposure value, and is arranged vertically with a center display segment 22 indicating proper exposure. The center display segment 22 is horizontally longer than the other display segment 21 in order to distinguish from the other display segment 21.

  Further, in the vicinity of the triangular display segment on one end side (upper end side) of these display segments 21, a plus mark display segment (+) 23 indicating the overexposed side is provided on the other end side (lower end side). In the vicinity of the triangular display segment, a minus mark display segment (−) 24 indicating the under-exposed side is arranged. FIG. 3 shows a state in which all the display segments 21, 22, 23, and 24 constituting the exposure indicator 20 are lit.

  The shutter speed indicator 31 includes three number indicators (displaying numbers from “0” to “9”, etc.) A, B, C, having seven display segments arranged in a generally “8” shape. It is configured with a decimal point indicator and a numeric indicator D (which can display a numeral such as “0” or “1”) having five display segments arranged in a general “b” shape.

  The aperture value indicator 32 includes a character indicator E composed of letters “F” indicating that the aperture value is displayed, two numeric indicators F and G having the same configuration as the numeric indicators A to C, and a decimal point indicator. Configured. FIG. 3 shows a state in which all the display segments constituting the numeric indicators A to D, F, G, the decimal point indicator, and the character indicator E are lit.

  The configuration, arrangement, and combination of the indicators A to G in the information indicators 31 and 32 are not limited to this, and may be other configurations, arrangements, and combinations. In addition, the content of the information here is the shutter speed and the aperture value as described above, but may be other information related to photographing.

  FIG. 4 shows a display example of the exposure indicator 20 and the information indicators 31 and 32. Here, the exposure indicator 20 exemplifies that the exposure deviation is “2/3 step” on the plus side. The shutter speed indicator 31 exemplifies that the shutter speed is “1/250 seconds”, and the aperture value indicator 32 exemplifies that the aperture value is “F5.6”. .

  In this embodiment, the exposure indicator 20 and the shutter speed indicator 31 are also used as indicators for displaying the inclination (amount and direction) of the camera CM. The photographer can switch each display of the exposure indicator 20 and the shutter speed indicator 31 to tilt display by pressing a display switching button as one of the operation members 15 provided in the camera CM. ing. When the tilt display button is pressed, the CPU 12 calculates the tilt of the camera CM based on the output of the tilt sensor 14 and performs the following display. Note that the display of exposure, shutter speed, and aperture value can be restored by pressing the display switching button again.

  The tilt display using the exposure indicator 20 is mainly displayed so that the amount of tilt can be recognized, and the tilt direction can also be known. That is, when the camera CM is viewed from the back, the center display segment is rotated when the camera CM rotates counterclockwise with respect to the optical axis direction of the photographing lens 1 (when the left shoulder of the camera CM is low and the right shoulder is high). Using the display segment 21 above 22 (plus mark display segment 23 side), the adjacent display segments 21 are sequentially lit upward while changing the number of lighting from the center display segment 22 according to the angle. To do. In addition, although the relationship between the number of lighting of the display segment 21 and a rotation angle can be set arbitrarily, for example, it is 1 degree, 5 degrees, 10 degrees, etc. per one display segment (one scale). can do.

  On the contrary, when the camera CM is viewed from the back and rotated clockwise with respect to the optical axis direction of the photographing lens 1 (when the left shoulder of the camera CM is high and the right shoulder is low), The display segment 21 on the minus side (minus mark display segment 24 side) of the display segment 22 is used, and the adjacent display segments 21 are sequentially moved downward while changing the number of lighting from the center display segment 22 according to the angle. This is done by lighting up. Here, in the case of tilt display, the plus mark display segment 23 and the minus mark display segment 24 are not lit to prevent confusion with the exposure display. However, these mark display segments 23 and 24 may be turned on.

  The inclination display using the shutter speed indicator 31 is mainly displayed so that the direction of the inclination can be intuitively recognized, and the degree of inclination (an outline of the amount of inclination) is also known. Here, display segments are displayed using three horizontal display segments arranged in the top and bottom of each of the seven display segments of each of the number indicators (three digits) A, B, and C for displaying the shutter speed. To do. Here, each display segment of the aperture value indicator 32 is turned off.

  5 to 8 show the exposure indicator 20 and the shutter speed indicator 31 when the camera CM is horizontal (the longitudinal direction of the imaging area PA is horizontal) or close to this (a state where the camera CM is slightly tilted). An example of tilt display using is shown. In the state where the camera CM is horizontal, as shown in FIG. 5, only the center display segment 22 is lit on the exposure indicator 20, and each of the numeric indicators A, B, and C is displayed on the shutter speed indicator 31. Only the middle display segment of one display segment is lit. By turning on the three middle display segments of the numeric indicators A, B, and C, it can be intuitively recognized that the camera CM is substantially horizontal.

  FIG. 6 shows a state (for example, 5 degrees) slightly inclined to the left of the horizontal (FIG. 5) (counterclockwise when viewing the camera CM from the back, counterclockwise with respect to the optical axis direction of the photographing lens 1). Has been. The exposure indicator 20 is lit with a center display segment 22 and a display segment 21 corresponding to one scale on the plus side (for example, when “5 degrees / 1 scale” is set). In the shutter speed indicator 31, the middle and lower display segments are lit in the left numeric indicator A, the middle display in the middle numeric indicator B, and the middle and upper display segments in the right numeric indicator C. Accordingly, it can be understood that the left side of the camera CM is slightly inclined downward and the right side is slightly inclined upward.

  FIG. 7 shows a further tilted state (for example, 15 degrees) to the left of FIG. 6 (counterclockwise with respect to the optical axis direction of the photographing lens 1 when the camera CM is viewed from the back). . The exposure indicator 20 is illuminated with a center display segment 22 and a display segment 21 corresponding to three scales on the plus side. In the shutter speed indicator 31, the lower display segment is lit in the left numeric indicator A, the middle display in the central numeric indicator B, and the upper display segment in the right numeric indicator C. Thereby, it can be understood that the left side of the camera CM is inclined downward and the right side is inclined upward as compared with FIG.

  FIG. 8 shows a further tilted state (for example, 35 degrees) to the left of FIG. 7 (counterclockwise with respect to the optical axis direction of the photographing lens 1 when the camera CM is viewed from the back). . The exposure indicator 20 is lit with the central display segment 22 and all the display segments 21 on the plus side. The display of the shutter speed indicator 31 is the same as in FIG. Although the tilt display by the shutter speed indicator 31 is the same, it can be understood from the tilt display by the exposure indicator 20 that the camera CM is greatly tilted downward on the left side and upward on the right side of FIG.

  In this manner, the horizontal display segments of the respective numeric indicators A, B, and C constituting the shutter speed indicator 31 are used to graphically display the inclination, and the direction of the inclination and the degree of inclination (an approximate inclination of the inclination). Amount) can be intuitively recognized. Further, the exposure indicator 20 can recognize the direction of inclination and a more detailed amount of inclination. In the above description, all the display segments of the aperture value indicator 32 are turned off. However, the numerical value of the tilt amount is expressed using the numerical indicators F and G (including the decimal point indicator when the decimal point is displayed). You may make it display with. Further, the aperture value may remain displayed.

  9 and 10 show display examples when the camera CM is vertical (the longitudinal direction of the imaging area PA is vertical) or close to this state. In this case, the shutter speed indicator 31 is not used (all is turned off), and only the exposure indicator 20 is used for tilt display. When the camera CM is vertical, the exposure indicator 20 lights only the center display segment 22 as shown in FIG. This makes it possible to intuitively recognize that the camera CM is vertical.

  FIG. 10 shows a display example in a state slightly tilted to the right of the vertical direction (clockwise with respect to the optical axis direction of the photographing lens 1 when the camera CM is viewed from the back). The exposure indicator 20 is lit with a center display segment 22 and a display segment 21 corresponding to two graduations on the plus side. Thereby, it can be understood that the left side of the camera CM is slightly inclined upward and the right side thereof is slightly inclined downward. Here, when the camera CM is set to be vertical, the tilt display by the shutter speed indicator 31 is not performed. However, the display may be performed in the same manner as in FIGS.

  To switch between the above-mentioned display when close to horizontal (FIGS. 5 to 8) and the display when close to vertical (FIGS. 9 and 10), for example, as one of the operation members 15, a horizontal / vertical switch button is used. This can be done by pressing this button. Further, this switching may be performed automatically. That is, when the camera CM is within a range of ± 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal, the display when the camera CM is nearly horizontal (FIGS. 5 to 8) is In some cases, the display in the case of near vertical (FIGS. 9 and 10) can be performed. However, in order to make the display easier to understand, when the camera CM is within a range of ± 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal, the display when the camera CM is close to the horizontal (FIGS. 5 to 8) is displayed. Display within the range of ± 30 degrees (FIGS. 9 and 10), and display is not performed during that time (the exposure indicator 20 and all of the information indicators 31 and 32). The display segment may be turned off.

  In addition, in the digital still camera, it is possible to record the posture of the camera as shooting information of the shot image together with the shot image, but when the camera CM is within a range of ± 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal, The information indicating the horizontal can be recorded when the camera CM is within a range of ± 30 degrees with respect to the vertical, and the information indicating the vertical can be recorded, and the information can be not recorded when the angle is other than these. However, when the angle is other than these, information indicating the horizontal may be recorded. The accurate tilt amount and direction by the tilt sensor 14 of the camera CM may be recorded in detail as numerical values.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the inclination of the camera CM is displayed by using the exposure indicator 20 for exposure display and the shutter speed indicator 31 for shutter speed display by the segment type in-finder display device 13. As a result, there is no need to provide a special display device (display segment for tilt display) to display the tilt, and tilt display within the viewfinder is possible while suppressing an increase in the size and cost of the viewfinder. It is possible to provide a simple camera, and it is possible to easily perform photographing with the camera set horizontally or vertically while holding the camera and visually checking the viewfinder.

  The digital camera of the above-described embodiment includes the segment display information display device 16 for displaying information in addition to the dot matrix image display device 9 for image display. In addition to or instead of the tilt display using the exposure indicator 20 and the information indicators 31 and 32, the tilt display is performed using the exposure indicator, the information indicator, and other indicators of the information display device 16 as well. You may do it.

  The embodiment described above is described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and is not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment includes all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the camera of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the camera of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the exposure indicator and information indicator of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of exposure, shutter speed, and aperture value of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display (horizontal state) of the inclination of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the inclination of the embodiment of this invention (the state inclined slightly from FIG. 5). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the inclination (state which inclined more than FIG. 6) of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the inclination (state which inclined more than FIG. 7) of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display (vertical state) of the inclination of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the inclination of the embodiment of this invention (the state which inclined slightly rather than FIG. 9).

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Shooting lens, 2 ... Image sensor, 6 ... Image processing circuit, 9 ... Image display apparatus, 11 ... Recording medium, 12 ... CPU, 13 ... Display apparatus in finder, 14 ... Tilt sensor, 15 ... Operation member (display switching) Button), 16 ... information display device, 20 ... exposure indicator, 21 ... display segment, 23 ... center display segment, 31 ... shutter speed indicator, 32 ... aperture value indicator, A to D, F, G ... numeric indicators, PA ... Shooting area.

Claims (4)

In the shooting device,
Inclination detecting means for detecting the inclination of the photographing apparatus ;
A plurality of numerical indicators having seven display segments capable of displaying numbers from 0 to 9 are arranged adjacent to each other , and information display means for displaying information relating to photographing so as to be visible through a finder ;
Whether to display information about the shooting by the information display means, by replacing a part of the display of information related to the shooting, selectively or performs a display indicating the tilt detected by said detecting means by the information display means Switching means for switching to
With
When displaying the inclination detected by the inclination detection means by the information display means in a state in which the photographing apparatus is inclined, the display segments at different places are turned on in the numerical indicators and detected by the inclination detection means. An imaging apparatus characterized by displaying an inclination in two dimensions . When displaying the inclination detected by the inclination detection means by the information display means in a state in which the photographing apparatus is inclined, the display of positions different in the direction intersecting with the direction in which the numerical indicators are arranged on the numerical indicators. 2. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a segment is lit and the inclination detected by the inclination detecting means is displayed two-dimensionally . The information display means includes an exposure indicator having a plurality of display segments arranged linearly and including a center display segment for displaying an exposure level,
When displaying the inclination detected by the inclination detecting means, wherein around the center display segments, the display segments arranged on one side or the other side of the center display segments in accordance with the direction of the inclination of the exposure indicator the use, by varying the number of display segments turned on in accordance with the amount of the tilt, imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that to display the direction and amount of the inclination of the slope. Wherein the information display means, when displaying the inclination detected by the inclination detecting means, when the amount of the gradient exceeds a predetermined amount, any claim 1-3, characterized in that to change the display form The imaging device according to claim 1.

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