JP5051934B2 - Imaging apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus having a function of removing foreign substances attached to an image pickup element or its vicinity and a control method thereof.

  In an interchangeable lens digital camera, dust or the like floating in the air may enter the camera body when the lens is removed from the camera body. In addition, various mechanical units such as a shutter mechanism are disposed inside the camera. By operating these mechanical units, dust such as metal pieces is generated in the camera body. In some cases. If such foreign matter such as dust and dirt adheres to the surface of the image sensor that constitutes the imaging unit of the digital camera, the foreign matter will appear as a shadow in the captured image, degrading the quality of the captured image. End up. In a camera using a silver salt film, since the film is sent each time an image is taken, the same foreign matter cannot be continuously reflected in the same position of the image. However, in a digital camera, such a movement does not occur every time shooting is performed, and thus there is a problem that the same foreign matter is continuously captured in the same position of the captured image.

  Therefore, in a conventional interchangeable lens digital camera or the like, it has been proposed that dust attached to the glass is removed by vibrating a protective glass (dust-proof glass) that protects the image sensor (Patent Document 1). ). In addition, there is a problem in that the release time lag is increased and the continuous shooting speed is reduced with the removal of the foreign matter by the vibration operation. In order to solve this problem, it has been proposed that in the continuous shooting mode, the foreign matter removal operation is performed only before the first frame shooting operation, and the foreign matter removal operation is not performed in the second and subsequent frame shooting. (Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-204379 A JP 2004-242158 A

  However, in any case, there is no change in performing the foreign substance removing operation prior to photographing. Therefore, a time lag occurs until the actual shooting is performed after the release button is pressed. In addition, for example, it is conceivable to perform a foreign object removal operation when the camera is turned on, but in that case, the same problem occurs when the release button is operated for the foreign object removal operation, and a precious photo opportunity is missed. It can also end up.

The present invention aims to solve the above conventional problems.
Feature of the present invention is to provide a can that imaging device and its control method for carrying out the foreign matter removing operation with no effect on the release time lag method.

In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a foreign matter removing unit that removes foreign matter attached to an optical element disposed in front of an imaging device, and a foreign matter removing operation performed by the foreign matter removing unit. When receiving an operation request related to a shooting operation, a determination unit that determines whether a set shooting condition is a shooting condition with a large influence of the foreign object or a shooting condition with a small influence of the foreign object , wherein the determining means Therefore, if the imaging conditions that are the set is determined to be a photographing condition high impact of the foreign substance, rather than the photographing operation executed in priority the foreign substance removal operation, the determination by means, when the imaging conditions that are the set is determined to be a small influence photographing condition of the foreign material, control the hand to execute with priority the photographing operation than the foreign matter removing operation And having a, the.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling an imaging apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a foreign matter removing step for removing foreign matter attached to an optical element disposed in front of an imaging device, and a foreign matter in the foreign matter removing step. When an operation request related to a shooting operation is received during the removal operation, a determination is made to determine whether the set shooting condition is a shooting condition with a large influence of the foreign object or a shooting condition with a small influence of the foreign object In the step and the determination step , when it is determined that the set shooting condition is a shooting condition in which the influence of the foreign matter is large, the foreign matter removing operation is performed with priority over the shooting operation. the by determining means, when the imaging conditions that are the set is determined to be a small influence photographing condition of the foreign substance is a step of preferentially executed the photographing operation than the foreign matter removing operation , Characterized by having a.

  According to the present invention, when an operation request related to a shooting operation such as release, AF, photometry, strobe pop-up, or the like is accepted during the foreign matter removal operation, the foreign matter removal operation is stopped and the operation request is met. By executing the processing, it is possible to reduce the release time lag due to the foreign substance removal operation and the influence on the response.

It is a block diagram explaining the functional structure of the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining starting of the foreign material removal operation | movement in the camera which concerns on this Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing when a photographing operation is requested during foreign object removal in the camera according to the first embodiment. 9 is a flowchart for explaining processing when a photographing operation is requested during foreign object removal in the camera according to the second embodiment. 14 is a flowchart for explaining processing when a predetermined operation request is received during a foreign substance removing operation in the camera according to the third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention. .

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a digital single lens reflex camera (hereinafter simply referred to as a camera) 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes a shutter for controlling the exposure amount to the image sensor 13, and 13 denotes an image sensor that converts an optical image into an electric signal. Reference numeral 14 denotes an optical element which is disposed at a predetermined position on the front side of the photoelectric conversion surface of the image pickup device 13 and prevents adhesion of foreign matters or the like to the photoelectric conversion surface. The optical element 13 is a dustproof member and is a dustproof filter (details will be described later). A vibration member 15 is disposed adjacent to the dustproof filter 14 and is a vibration member for applying a predetermined vibration to the dustproof filter 14. The vibration member 15 is composed of, for example, a piezoelectric element.

  The light beam incident on the lens 310 is guided through the diaphragm 312, the lens mounts 306 and 106, the mirror 130, and the shutter 12 by the single-lens reflex method, and is formed on the image sensor 13 as an optical image. Reference numeral 16 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal photoelectrically output from the image sensor 13 into a digital signal. The timing generation circuit 18 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 13, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26. The timing generation circuit 18 is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50. The image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 16 or the data from the memory control circuit 22. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs a predetermined calculation process using the captured image data as necessary. Based on the calculation result thus obtained, the system control circuit 50 performs TTL (Through The Lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, EF on the shutter control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42. (Flash dimming) processing can be performed. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained calculation result.

  In the present embodiment, the distance measuring unit 42 and the photometric unit 46 are exclusively provided. Accordingly, the AF processing, AE processing, and EF processing are performed using the distance measuring unit 42 and the photometry unit 46, and the AF processing, AE processing, and EF processing using the image processing circuit 20 are not performed. Also good. Alternatively, AF processing, AE processing, and EF processing are performed using the distance measuring unit 42 and the photometry unit 46, and further, each of AF processing, AE processing, and EF processing using the image processing circuit 20 is performed. It is good also as a structure.

  The memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32. The digital data output from the A / D converter 16 passes through the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, or the data from the A / D converter 16 passes directly through the memory control circuit 22 and the image display memory 24 or It is written in the memory 30. An image display unit 28 includes a TFT, an LCD, and the like. Display image data written in the image display memory 24 is displayed by the image display unit 28 via the D / A converter 26. The memory 30 is a memory for storing captured still image data, and has a sufficient memory capacity for storing a predetermined number of still image data. As a result, even in the case of continuous shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, a large amount of image writing can be performed on the memory 30 at high speed. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50. The compression / decompression circuit 32 compresses / decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like. The compression / decompression circuit 32 reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs compression or decompression processing, and writes the processed data to the memory 30.

  The shutter control unit 40 controls the operation of the shutter 12 in cooperation with the aperture control unit 340 that controls the aperture 312 based on the photometry information from the photometry unit 46. The distance measuring unit 42 performs AF (autofocus) processing. A light beam incident from the lens 310 is incident on the distance measuring unit 42 to measure the in-focus state of the image formed as an optical image. The photometry unit 46 performs AE processing, and measures the exposure state of an image formed as an optical image when a light beam incident on the lens 310 is incident. The photometry unit 46 also has an EF processing function in cooperation with the flash 48. The flash 48 also has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function. Further, the AF control may be performed using both the measurement result by the distance measuring unit 42 and the calculation result obtained by calculating the image data captured by the image sensor 13 by the image processing circuit 20. The exposure control may be performed using both the measurement result by the photometry unit 46 and the calculation result obtained by calculating the image data captured by the image sensor 13 by the image processing circuit 20.

  The system control unit 50 includes a CPU 50a such as a microcomputer, a timer 50b that counts time in accordance with instructions from the CPU 50a, and controls the overall operation of the camera 100. The memory 52 stores constants and variables for operation of the system control circuit 50, programs executed by the CPU 50a, and the like. The display unit 54 includes a liquid crystal display device, a speaker, and the like that display an operation state, a message, and the like using characters, images, sounds, and the like according to execution of a program in the system control circuit 50. These are installed in a single or a plurality of positions near the operation unit of the camera 100 so as to be easily visible, and are configured by a combination of an LCD, an LED, a sounding element, and the like. The display unit 54 is partly installed in the optical viewfinder 104. Among the display contents displayed on the display unit 54, those displayed on the LCD or the like include, for example, single / continuous shooting display, self-timer display, compression rate display, recording pixel number display, recording number display, remaining number display, and the like. Number of storable images, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure compensation display, flash display, red-eye reduction display, buzzer setting display, battery level display, error display, information display with multiple digits, recording media 200 and 210 There are an attachment / detachment state display, a lens unit 300 attachment / detachment state display, a communication I / F operation display, a date / time display, a display showing a connection state with an external computer, and the like. Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed on the optical viewfinder 104 is, for example, in-focus display, shooting preparation completion display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, flash charge completion display, shutter speed display, aperture There are a value display, an exposure correction display, a recording medium writing operation display, and the like. Further, among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed on the LED or the like includes, for example, a recording medium writing operation display. Of the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed on a lamp or the like includes, for example, a self-timer notification lamp. This self-timer notification lamp may be used in common with AF auxiliary light. The nonvolatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory, and for example, an EEPROM or the like is used. Reference numerals 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 are operation units for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50, and are configured by a single or a plurality of combinations such as switches and dials.

  Next, these operation units will be specifically described.

  The mode dial switch 60 includes an automatic shooting mode, a program shooting mode, a shutter speed priority shooting mode, an aperture priority shooting mode, a manual shooting mode, a depth of focus priority (depth) shooting mode, a portrait shooting mode, a landscape shooting mode, and a close-up shooting mode. Each function shooting mode such as sports shooting mode, night view shooting mode, panoramic shooting mode, etc. can be switched and set. The shutter switch (SW1) 62 is turned on during the operation of the shutter button, and instructs to start operations such as AF processing, AE processing, AWB processing, and EF processing. The shutter switch (SW2) 64 is turned on when the operation of the shutter button is completed, and writes the signal read from the image sensor 13 to the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22. That is, the exposure process, the development process using the calculation in the image processing circuit 20 or the memory control circuit 22, the image data is read out from the memory 30, the image data is compressed in the compression / decompression circuit 32, and the image is recorded on the recording medium 200 or 210. The operation start of a series of processes for writing data is instructed. The playback switch 66 instructs the start of a playback operation in which a shot image is read from the memory 30 or the recording medium 200 or 210 and displayed on the image display unit 28 in the shooting mode state. The foreign matter removal switch 68 is a switch for instructing the start of the foreign matter detection operation.

  The operation unit 70 has various buttons, a touch panel, and the like. These are the menu button, set button, multi-screen playback pagination button, flash setting button, single / continuous / self-timer switching button, menu movement + (plus) button, menu movement-(minus) button, playback image movement There are a + (plus) button, a playback image-(minus) button, a shooting image quality selection button, an exposure compensation button, and a date / time setting button. Further, an image display on / off switch for setting on / off of the image display unit 28, a quick review on / off switch for setting a quick review function for automatically reproducing image data taken immediately after shooting, and a compression rate of JPEG compression Or select each function mode such as compression mode switch, playback mode, multi-screen playback / erase mode, PC connection mode, etc. When the playback switch or shutter switch (SW1) 62 is pressed, an autofocus operation is started. Once focused, the one-shot AF mode that keeps the focused state and while the shutter switch (SW1) 62 is pressed. Sets the servo AF mode to continue autofocus operation There is an AF mode setting switch or the like that can. In addition, the functions of the plus button and the minus button can be selected more easily by providing a rotary dial switch.

  The power switch 72 can switch and set the power on and power off modes of the camera 100. In addition, the power on and power off settings of various attached devices such as the lens unit 300, the external strobe, and the recording media 200 and 210 connected to the camera 100 can be switched. The power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches blocks to be energized, and the like. Here, the presence / absence of a battery, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level are detected, the DC-DC converter is controlled based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control circuit 50, and a necessary voltage is recorded for a necessary period. Supply to each part including the medium. Reference numeral 82 denotes a connector, and 86 denotes a power source unit including a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  Reference numerals 90 and 94 denote interfaces with recording media such as memory cards and hard disks, and reference numerals 92 and 96 denote connectors for connecting to recording media such as memory cards and hard disks. The recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit 98 detects whether or not the corresponding recording media 200 and 210 are attached to the connectors 92 and 96.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there are two interfaces and connectors for attaching a recording medium. Of course, the interface and the connector for attaching the recording medium may have a single or a plurality of systems and any number of systems. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with combining the interface and connector of a different standard. The interface and connector may be configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like that conforms to a standard. Further, when the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96 are configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like, a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, an IEEE 1394 card. Various communication cards such as a SCSI card and a communication card such as a PHS can be connected. As a result, image data and management information attached to the image data can be transferred to and from peripheral devices such as other computers and printers.

  The optical finder 104 guides the light beam incident on the lens 310 through the stop 312, the lens mounts 306 and 106, and the mirrors 130 and 132, and forms an image as an optical image. As a result, it is possible to perform shooting using only the optical viewfinder 104 without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. The optical viewfinder 104 is provided with some functions of the display unit 54, such as a focus display, a camera shake warning display, a flash charge display, a shutter speed display, an aperture value display, and an exposure correction display.

  The communication unit 110 has various communication functions such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication. With this communication function, image data and management information attached to the image data can be exchanged with peripheral devices such as other computers and printers. Details regarding the transfer of the image data will be described later. Reference numeral 112 denotes a connector for connecting the camera 100 to another device by the communication unit 110, or an antenna in the case of wireless communication.

  The interface 120 connects the camera 100 to the lens unit 300 in the lens mount 106. The connector 122 electrically connects the camera 100 to the lens unit 300. A lens attachment / detachment detection unit (not shown) detects whether the lens unit 300 is attached to the lens mount 106 and / or the connector 122. The connector 122 transmits a control signal, a status signal, a data signal, and the like between the camera 100 and the lens unit 300, and also has a function of supplying currents of various voltages. The connector 122 may be configured to transmit not only electrical communication but also optical communication, voice communication, and the like.

  Reference numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 202 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, an interface 204 with the camera 100, and a connector 206 for connecting with the camera 100. Reference numeral 210 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 210 includes a recording unit 212 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, an interface 214 with the camera 100, and a connector 216 for connecting with the camera 100.

  In the interchangeable lens type lens unit 300, the interface 320 connects the lens unit 300 to the camera 100. The connector 322 electrically connects the lens unit 300 with the camera 100. The connector 322 transmits a control signal, a status signal, a data signal, and the like between the camera 100 and the lens unit 300, and has a function of supplying or supplying a current of various voltages. The connector 322 may be configured to transmit not only electrical communication but also optical communication, voice communication, and the like. The aperture control unit 340 controls the aperture 312 in cooperation with the shutter control unit 40 that controls the shutter 12 based on photometric information from the photometry unit 46. The distance measurement control unit 342 controls focusing of the photographing lens 310. The zoom control unit 344 controls zooming of the photographing lens 310.

  The lens system control circuit 350 controls the entire lens unit 300. The lens system control circuit 350 includes a memory for storing operation constants, variables, programs and the like, identification information such as a number unique to the lens unit 300, management information, function information such as an open aperture value, a minimum aperture value, a focal length, A non-volatile memory is also provided for holding current and past set values.

  During the execution of the foreign matter removing operation, the dustproof filter 14 is vibrated by the vibration member 15, and dust and dust on the surface of the dustproof filter 14 are screened off by this vibration. In this embodiment, an example in which the dust filter 14 is vibrated is taken up as a method for removing the foreign matter. However, the period of the voltage applied to the vibration member (piezoelectric element) 15 and the vibration direction of the dust filter 14 are particularly important. It is not limited. Further, the vibration to be generated may be first order or higher order. The foreign matter removing method according to the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and other methods may be used. Furthermore, not only physically removing the foreign matter, but also removing foreign matter such as detecting and storing the position of the foreign matter on the image sensor and removing the image data of the foreign matter from the captured image data. Also good.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the activation of the foreign substance removal operation in the camera 100 according to the present embodiment. This process is executed by the system control unit 50.

  In step S1, when the power of the camera 100 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S2, and the foreign matter removing operation described above is activated. In step S3, if the foreign substance removal switch 68 that is operated when the photographer wants to remove foreign substances at an arbitrary timing is turned on, the process returns to step S2 to repeat the foreign substance removal operation. When the foreign matter removal switch 68 is turned off in step S3, the process proceeds to step S4, and the normal operation as a camera is executed.

  In step S5, it is determined whether or not the power switch is turned off. If it is not turned off, the process returns to step S3 to execute the above-described processing. In step S5, when the power switch is turned off, the process proceeds to step S6 to execute a foreign substance removing operation.

  In this way, when the camera is turned on (step S1), when the power is turned off (step S4), or when the photographer wants to remove foreign matter at an arbitrary timing, the foreign matter removal switch 68 is pressed ( As a result of step S3), the foreign substance removal operation is activated (steps S2 and S5).

  Even when the photographer does not instruct the foreign matter removal operation, the foreign matter removal operation is started at a predetermined timing (for example, when the power is turned on or when the power is turned off), so that the foreign matter is not always attached to the image sensor. Can keep. Note that the flowchart of FIG. 2 is merely an example of the foreign substance removal timing, and does not limit the present invention. For example, the foreign substance removal operation may be performed at the lens replacement timing.

[Embodiment 1]
Next, a description will be given of the movement when there is an operation request from the photographer during the foreign substance removal operation.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing when a photographing operation is requested during foreign object removal in the camera 100 according to the first embodiment. A program for executing this processing is stored in the memory 52, and the CPU 50a. Executed under the control of

  In step S301, the foreign substance removing operation is started. It is assumed that the start of the foreign substance removal operation is started when the power is turned on or the foreign substance removal switch 68 is turned on, for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Next, in step S302, it is determined whether or not the switch 64 (SW2) for instructing photographing with the shutter button is turned on. When the switch 64 (SW2) is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S303, and it is checked whether a predetermined time has elapsed based on the time measured by the timer 50b. When the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S302 to check again whether the switch 64 (SW2) is turned on. If it is determined in step S303 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the foreign matter removing operation is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S305. The process after step S305 is a process during normal shooting standby. First, in step S305, it is determined whether or not the shutter switch (SW1) 62 is turned on. If not, the process proceeds to step S309. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S306, and AE, AF is performed as in normal shooting. Processes and the like are executed, and the process proceeds to step S307. In step S307, it is checked whether or not the shutter switch (SW2) 64 is turned on. If the switch 64 is not turned on, the process returns to step S305, but if it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S308 to start photographing. In step S309, it is checked whether or not the foreign matter removal switch 68 is turned on. When the switch 68 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S301 to start the foreign matter removal operation. On the other hand, when the foreign matter removal switch 68 is not turned on in step S309, the process proceeds to step S305 and the above-described processing is repeated.

  On the other hand, if the shutter switch (SW2) 64 is pressed during the foreign substance removing operation in step S302, the process proceeds to step S310 and the foreign substance removing operation is stopped. In step S311, the operation proceeds to the photographing operation. When a series of photographing operations are thus completed, the process returns to step S301, and the suspended foreign matter removal operation is resumed.

  Note that, here, the interrupted foreign substance removal operation is shown to be resumed when the photographing is completed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the foreign matter removal state may be determined when the foreign matter removal operation is interrupted, and at that time, it may be determined whether or not to resume the foreign matter removal operation after the photographing is completed.

  The determination of the foreign matter removal status may be measured by the elapsed time of the foreign matter removal operation, or may be based on the detection result by some foreign matter detection means.

  Further, the foreign matter removing operation is divided into, for example, a first step for obtaining an optimal vibration frequency of the vibration member 15 and a second step for starting vibration of the vibration member 15 at the determined frequency. There is. In this case, if the first step is completed when the foreign matter removing operation is interrupted, the second step may be resumed.

  In FIG. 3, the case of the photographing operation using the shutter switch (SW2) 64 has been described. However, the foreign matter removing operation may be interrupted in the same manner when the shutter switch (SW1) 62 is turned on. In this case, AF and AE processes are performed in the same manner as in normal shooting, and then the shooting operation is executed when the shutter switch (SW2) 64 is turned on.

  Further, when the flash 48 can be charged or the flash 48 can be stowed and popped up, the foreign matter removing operation may be interrupted at the pop-up operation timing of the flash 48. As described above, the operation and function for interrupting the foreign substance removal operation are not particularly limited.

  According to the first embodiment as described above, as soon as the shutter button is pressed during the foreign substance removing operation, the foreign substance removing operation can be interrupted and the photographing operation can be started. Thus, there is an effect that desired photographing can be executed without missing a photo opportunity even during the foreign substance removing operation.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The second embodiment is characterized in that, when a predetermined operation request including an imaging operation is received during the foreign substance removal operation, the photographer can set in advance whether to interrupt the foreign substance removal operation that is being performed. . Since the configuration of the camera 100 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing when a photographing operation is requested during foreign object removal in the camera 100 according to the second embodiment. A program for executing this processing is stored in the memory 52, and the CPU 50a. Executed under the control of In FIG. 4, processing steps that are the same as those in FIG. 3 described above are denoted by the same symbols, and description thereof is omitted.

  The foreign matter removing operation started in step S301 is continued until it is determined in step S303 that the predetermined time has elapsed. If the shutter switch (SW2) 64 is pressed during the foreign matter removing operation, step S401 is performed. Proceed to In step S401, it is determined whether the foreign object removal operation is prioritized or which of the photographing processes is set to be prioritized. If the photographing is prioritized, the process proceeds to step S310, and as described with reference to FIG. 3, the foreign matter removing operation is stopped and the process proceeds to step S311. The photographing is performed and the process proceeds to step S305.

  On the other hand, if the foreign matter removal operation is prioritized in step S401, the process proceeds to step S402 and waits for a predetermined time until the time necessary for the foreign matter removal elapses. And after this processing time passes, it progresses to step S403 and complete | finishes a foreign material removal operation | movement. In step S404, the photographing process is executed in the same manner as in step S311 and the process proceeds to step S305.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the foreign matter removal operation is interrupted by the shutter switch (SW2) 64. Similarly, the foreign matter removal operation is canceled or stopped in the AF and photometry operation by the shutter switch (SW1) 62. May determine whether to give priority. In the second embodiment, the operation and function for interrupting the foreign substance removal operation are not particularly limited.

  The priority order may be set using, for example, the UI screen of the camera 100, or a dedicated switch or the like may be provided and the switch may be determined according to the setting.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the shutter button is pressed during the execution of the foreign substance removing operation, the foreign substance removing operation is interrupted and shooting is performed immediately, or the foreign substance removing operation is performed. You can specify whether to continue.

[Embodiment 3]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the third embodiment, when a predetermined operation request such as a photographing operation is received during the foreign substance removing operation, the camera body automatically determines whether or not the foreign substance removing operation being executed is interrupted. It is said.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a process when a predetermined operation request is accepted during the foreign substance removal operation in the camera 100 according to the third embodiment. A program for executing this process is stored in the memory 52. This is executed under the control of the CPU 50a. In FIG. 5, processing steps common to those in FIG. 3 described above are denoted by the same symbols, and description thereof is omitted.
Foreign substance removal operation initiated in Step S301 it is continues until it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed in step S303, step S501 if the shutter switch (SW2) 64 in the foreign matter removing operation is pressed Proceed to In this step S501, it is determined whether or not the set aperture value or the calculated aperture value is larger than the predetermined aperture amount (small aperture). To do. Then, when the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S504, the foreign matter removing operation is finished, and the process proceeds to step S505 to execute the photographing process. Here, the predetermined aperture amount is a value at which the influence of dust on the image sensor starts to be noticeable on the captured image.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S501 that the predetermined aperture amount is not reached, the process proceeds to step S502, where it is determined whether the set recording image quality is in the high image quality mode. In the case of the high image quality mode, the process proceeds to step S503 and waits until the time necessary for removing the foreign matter has elapsed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S502 that the image quality mode is not selected, the process advances to step S310 to stop the foreign matter removing operation, and in step 311 the process proceeds to the photographing operation. After a series of photographing operations is completed in this way, the process returns to step S301 to restart the foreign matter removing operation.

  According to the third embodiment as described above, when it is determined that the influence of the foreign matter is large on the captured image, that is, the foreign matter removal priority is given, the process waits until a predetermined time necessary for the foreign matter removal elapses, and the predetermined time When the time elapses, the foreign matter removing operation is terminated, and then the imaging sequence can be started. Thereby, the influence on the picked-up image by a foreign material can be eliminated. In addition, when it is considered that the influence of the foreign matter is small, priority is given to the photographing by the shutter button, so that the possibility of missing the photo opportunity can be reduced.

  In FIG. 5, the case of the photographing operation by the shutter switch (SW2) 64 has been described, but the foreign substance removal operation may be interrupted similarly by AF or photometry operation by the shutter switch (SW1) 62. Further, the operation and function for interrupting the foreign substance removal operation are not limited to the configuration of the present embodiment.

Claims (7)

Foreign matter removing means for removing foreign matter attached to the optical element disposed in front of the imaging device;
When an operation request related to the photographing operation is received during the foreign substance removing operation by the foreign substance removing means , whether the set photographing condition is a photographing condition in which the influence of the foreign substance is large or the photographing condition in which the influence of the foreign substance is small. determining means for determining whether the,
Wherein the determining means Therefore, if the imaging conditions that are the set is determined to be a photographing condition high impact of the foreign substance, rather than the photographing operation executed in priority the foreign substance removal operation, the determination When the means determines that the set photographing condition is a photographing condition in which the influence of the foreign matter is small, the control means executes the photographing operation in preference to the foreign matter removing operation ;
An imaging device comprising: The photographing conditions, only including the aperture value,
The determination means determines that the influence of the foreign matter is large when the aperture value is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and if the aperture value is not less than or equal to the predetermined value, the influence of the foreign matter is determined. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the imaging condition is small . The shooting conditions include recording image quality,
The determination unit determines that the influence of the foreign matter is large when the recording image quality is in the high image quality mode, and the influence of the foreign matter is small when the recording image quality is not in the high image quality mode. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the imaging condition is satisfied. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a switch for starting the foreign substance removal operation by said foreign substance removing means. A foreign matter removing step for removing foreign matter attached to the optical element disposed in front of the imaging device;
When an operation request related to the photographing operation is received during the foreign substance removing operation in the foreign substance removing step, whether the set photographing condition is a photographing condition in which the influence of the foreign substance is large or the photographing condition in which the influence of the foreign substance is small. A determination step of determining whether there is,
In the determination step , when it is determined that the set shooting condition is a shooting condition in which the influence of the foreign matter is large, the foreign matter removal operation is prioritized and executed over the shooting operation, and the determination When the means determines that the set shooting condition is a shooting condition in which the influence of the foreign matter is small , the step of executing the shooting operation with priority over the foreign matter removing operation ;
A method for controlling an imaging apparatus, comprising: The photographing conditions, only including the aperture value,
In the determination step, when the aperture value is less than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined that the shooting condition is that the influence of the foreign matter is large, and when the aperture value is not less than or equal to the predetermined value, the influence of the foreign matter is determined. 6. The method of controlling an imaging apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein it is determined that the imaging condition is small . The shooting conditions include recording image quality,
In the determining step, when the recording image quality is in the high image quality mode, it is determined that the shooting condition is that the influence of the foreign matter is large. When the recording image quality is not in the high image quality mode, the influence of the foreign matter is determined. The method for controlling an imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the imaging condition is determined to be a small imaging condition.

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