JP5257128B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera having a plurality of operation members.

  Generally, the operation member of the camera is arranged on the assumption that the photographer is right-handed. For this reason, when the right-handed photographer shoots with the right hand blocked, or when the photographer is left-handed, the operation member may be difficult to use. For this reason, a camera in which the operation member is movable with respect to the camera housing has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-29158 A

  However, if the operation member can be moved, the structure of the camera becomes complicated.

  The subject of this invention is providing the camera which can be arrange | positioned so that an operation member may be operated easily, without complicating the structure of a camera.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the imaging unit starts imaging when an imaging unit that captures a subject image, a plurality of operation members, and a first operation member of the plurality of operation members are operated. A control unit that performs second control other than the first control when a second operation member among the plurality of operation members is operated , and turning on / off the power of the camera. A third operation member that performs the second operation member when the second operation member is operated and the third operation member performs an operation to turn on from the off state by the third operation member . In the camera, the control performed when the operation member is operated is changed to the first control.
The invention according to claim 2 is the camera according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit changes the control performed when the second operation member is operated to the first control, and The camera is characterized in that the control performed when the first operating member is operated is changed to the second control.
A third aspect of the present invention is the camera according to the second aspect , wherein the control unit performs the first operation after the control performed when the first operation member is operated is changed to the second control. In the camera, the first control is set to be performed when the first operation member is operated when the operation member is turned on from the OFF state by the operation member 3.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the third aspect , when the control unit is operated to be turned on from off by the third operation member in a state where the first operation member is operated. In addition, the camera has the above-described setting.
Invention of Claim 5 is a camera of any one of Claims 1-4 , Comprising: The said 2nd operation member is a display which displays the control performed when operation is performed so that identification is possible It is a camera characterized by providing a part.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is the camera according to the second, third, or fourth aspect , wherein the first operation member includes a display unit that displays the control performed when the operation is performed in an identifiable manner. This is a camera characterized by that.
The invention according to claim 7 is the camera according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the first operation member and the second operation member can be half-pressed and fully pressed. It is a camera characterized by being.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the camera which can be arrange | positioned so that an operation member may be operated easily can be provided, without complicating the structure of a camera.

It is the external view which looked at the electronic camera to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied from the back. It is a block block diagram of an electronic camera. It is a processing flow explaining the flow of the change allocation process by the operation button function allocation part. It is a timing chart of the change allocation by the operation button function allocation part. It is a figure which shows an example of the function display in an operation button. It is a timing chart of the change allocation by the operation button function allocation part in 2nd Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and the like.
FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic camera 10 to which the first embodiment is applied as viewed from the back. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic camera 10.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electronic camera 10 includes an imaging unit 11, an operation unit 20, a rear display unit 13, a control unit 12 including an operation button function allocation unit 30, an image processing unit 14, And an image recording unit 15.

  The imaging unit 11 includes an imaging optical system and an imaging element such as a lens and a diaphragm (not shown). The imaging unit 11 converts the subject image formed on the imaging element by the lens into an electrical signal (imaging data), and outputs it to the image processing unit.

The operation unit 20 includes a main switch 20M, a shutter button 20S, and a plurality of operation buttons 21 to 28. The operation unit 20 is operated by the user and outputs the operation information to the control unit 12.
The main switch 20M is provided in the upper part of the casing of the electronic camera 10 and turns on / off the power of the electronic camera 10 by the operation thereof.

  Buttons other than the main switch 20M provided in the operation unit 20, that is, the shutter button 20S and the operation buttons 21 to 28 are configured to operate the switches when pressed. The correspondence between the pressing operation of the shutter button 20S or the operation buttons 21 to 28 and the camera function processed thereby (the function assigned to the shutter button 20S or the operation buttons 21 to 28, hereinafter simply the shutter button 20S or The function of the operation buttons 21 to 28 is also defined by the control unit 12 to be described later based on the initial allocation included in the control unit 12 or a changed allocation changed from the initial allocation.

  The shutter button 20S is configured as a two-stage switch that is operated by a two-stage pressing stroke. The function of the initial assignment by the control unit 12 is a shutter release function as the name suggests, and performs photometry and autofocus operations (ranging and lens driving based on distance measurement information) with the ON signal of the first-stage switch. The release action (exposure = photographing) is performed by the ON signal of the switch at the stage. The ON signal of the first-stage switch is also used for returning the electronic camera 10 from the sleep state. As shown in FIG. 1, the shutter button 20 </ b> S is disposed on the upper surface side on the right side when viewed from the back side of the electronic camera 10.

  The first operation button 21 is disposed on the upper left side when viewed from the back side of the electronic camera 10, which is substantially symmetrical with the shutter button 20 </ b> S around the eyepiece 10 </ b> F of the electronic camera 10. The function in the initial allocation by the control unit 12 is the IS0 sensitivity setting.

  Although the detailed description of the other operation buttons 22 to 28 included in the operation unit 20 is omitted, in the initial assignment by the control unit 12, a function setting menu screen is called to the rear display unit 13 to be described later, and selection from the function menu is performed. Functions such as / setting, photometry mode switching, AF mode switching, and shooting mode (auto shooting or manual shooting) switching are assigned.

  The rear display unit 13 includes a liquid crystal panel 13 </ b> A provided on the rear surface of the electronic camera 10. The rear display unit 13 is controlled by the control unit 12 to be described later, and a user such as a function setting menu for setting various functions in the electronic camera 10 and a shutter speed, aperture, exposure correction information, and the like on the liquid crystal panel 13A. Displays setting information related to photographing input through the operation unit 20, photometric information measured by the imaging unit 11, and the like. Further, the photographed image, its histogram, photographing information and the like are displayed on the liquid crystal panel 13A.

  The control unit 12 is configured by a microcomputer or the like. And the control part 12 is based on the operation information of the shutter button 20S of the operation part 20, each operation button 21-28, and the setting information set via each operation button 21-28, and each part of the said electronic camera 10 Is controlled in an integrated manner. In addition, the control unit 12 controls the rear display unit 13 to display various information, captured images, and the like on the liquid crystal panel 13A. The control unit 12 records a program for executing each of these processes in advance.

  In addition, the control unit 12 stores and holds, in a memory (not shown), an initial assignment that preliminarily defines the correspondence (function assignment) between the shutter button 20S and the operation buttons 21 to 28 in the operation unit 20 and functions. In the initial assignment, as described above, the shutter release function is assigned to the shutter button 20S, and the IS0 sensitivity setting function is assigned to the first operation button 21.

  Further, the control unit 12 defines the correspondence between the shutter button 20S and the respective operation buttons 21 to 28 in the operation unit 20 and the function by changing from the initial assignment (setting the change assignment), and the operation button function assigning unit 30. It has. The operation of the operation button function assigning unit 30 will be described in detail later.

The image processing unit 14 performs various digital signal processing such as color signal generation, matrix conversion processing, γ conversion processing, correction processing, and the like on the imaging data input from the imaging unit 11 to generate image information.
The image recording unit 15 is configured by a detachable removable memory or the like. Then, the photographed image (original image) processed by the image processing unit 14 and the framed image formed by the framed image generation unit are recorded.

  In the electronic camera 10 configured as described above, the subject image formed on the imaging element by the imaging unit 11 is converted into an electrical signal by the control of the control unit 12 based on the operation of the operation unit 20 by the user (photographer). The image data is converted and output to the image processing unit 14, and the image processing unit 14 forms image data (original image) from the electric signal and records it in the image recording unit 15. As described above, the rear display unit 13 displays various setting information, shooting information, captured images, and an operation screen that defines the functions of the operation unit 20 on the liquid crystal panel 13A.

Next, the change assignment operation in the operation button function assignment unit 30 provided in the control unit 12 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 in addition to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 3 is a process flow for explaining the flow of change assignment processing by the user's operation and operation button function assignment unit 30. FIG. 4 is a timing chart of change assignment by the operation button function assigning unit 30. In the following description, a function change target among the operation buttons 21 to 28 is referred to as an operation button 2X.

The operation button function assignment unit 30 sets a change assignment for assigning a function different from the initial assignment described above to the shutter button 20S and the operation button 2X in the operation unit 20.
In the change assignment, the shutter release function set in the shutter button 20S in the initial assignment is assigned to the other operation buttons 2X of the operation unit 20. That is, the function is exchanged and set between the shutter button 20S and the other operation buttons 2X. This change assignment has priority over the initial assignment.

  Specifically, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 4, the operation button function assigning unit 30 is operated when the electronic camera 10 is turned on (when the main switch 20M is operated from OFF to ON). The shutter release function is assigned to the operation button 2X in the released state (ON state). The shutter button 20S is assigned with the function set in the initial assignment with respect to the operation button 2X assigned with the shutter release function. For example, a shutter release function is assigned to the first operation button 21, and an ISO sensitivity change function is assigned to the shutter button 20S.

  That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the operation button function assigning unit 30 is turned on when the main switch 20M is turned on (S01) and the power is turned on (S02). It is determined whether or not there is a button 2X (presence / absence). (S03)

  If it is determined in step (S03) that there is an operation button 2X operated in the ON state, a change assignment for exchanging functions between the operation button 2X and the shutter button 20S is performed (S04). That is, the release switch function is assigned to the operation button 2X, and the switch function of the operation button 2X is assigned to the shutter button 20S. This change assignment is stored and held in a memory (not shown) of the control unit 12, and the control unit 12 subsequently determines the operation information of the shutter button 20 </ b> S and the operation buttons 21 to 28 based on this change assignment.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step (S03) that there is no operation button 2X operated in the ON state, the change assignment is not performed, and the control unit 12 performs the shutter button based on the preset initial assignment. The operation information of 20S and each of the operation buttons 21 to 28 is determined.

When shooting is finished and the main switch 20M is turned off (S05), the change assignment is reset (S06). Thereafter, the power is turned off (S07).
Thus, by resetting the change assignment before the power is turned off, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 4, when the main switch 20M is turned on next time, one of the operation buttons 2X is turned on. If not, it will start up with the initial assignment setting. If the change assignment is stored in a memory that is erased when the power is turned off, the reset step (S06) is unnecessary.

  As described above, the electronic camera 10 including the operation button function assigning unit 30 in the control unit can set the shutter release function by exchanging with the functions of the operation buttons 21 to 28 other than the shutter button 20S in the operation unit 20. it can. As a result, the shutter release function can be provided to any of the operation buttons 21 to 28 that are dispersedly arranged at various locations of the electronic camera 10, and the operation buttons 21 to 28 at positions suitable for the photographing form of the photographer can be operated. A shutter release operation can be performed.

  For example, if the shutter release function is set to be assigned to the first operation button 21 disposed substantially symmetrically with the shutter button 20S across the eyepiece 10F, the operability is improved for a left-handed photographer. . Further, even when the photographer is right-handed, the shutter can be operated with a natural posture while performing a work such as a memo with the dominant hand, which is extremely convenient.

  Here, as described above, the shutter button 20S is configured as a two-stage switch. When the shutter button 20S has a shutter release function, the shutter button 20S performs photometry and autofocus operation with the ON signal of the first-stage switch of the release. The release action is performed by the ON signal of the eye switch.

  For this reason, it is preferable that the counterpart operation button (any one of 21 to 28) for exchanging the shutter release function is also configured as a two-stage switch. That is, it is preferable that each of the operation buttons 21 to 28 is configured as a two-stage switch. If the operation buttons 21 to 28 are configured to operate the two-stage switch, it becomes possible to give the two operation functions to one operation button 21 to 28 by the pressing stroke. In that case, the function assigned to the operation buttons 21 to 28 of the function exchange partner in the initial state is naturally assigned to the shutter button 20S whose functions have been exchanged.

  Further, even if the operation buttons 21 to 28 are configured to operate the two-stage switch, they may correspond to one function. In that case, either the switch of the first stroke or the second stroke has no function. In other words, either the first stroke switch is turned on and the second stroke switch is turned off, or the first stroke switch is turned off and the second stroke switch is turned on. That's fine.

Furthermore, it is preferable that each of the operation buttons 21 to 28 is configured to display according to the function. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the operation button 21 is provided with a function display unit 20D.
As shown in FIG. 5, for example, a function display unit 20D such as an LCD panel is provided on the pressing surface of the operation button 21 so as to be able to selectively display both the function for initial allocation and the shutter release function. . And the display according to the function exchanged by the function display part 20D is performed. That is, “ISO” is displayed in the initial assignment as shown in FIG. 5A, and “SHUTTER” is displayed in the change assignment as shown in FIG. 5B.
Thereby, the operation button (any one of 21 to 28) to which the shutter release function is assigned can be identified by visual observation, and erroneous operation can be prevented.

In addition, as a different configuration of the function display on the operation buttons 21 to 28, although not shown in the figure, a light emitting member that emits light in a different color is provided in the vicinity of the operation surface of the operation button or the location where the operation button is provided. You may make it identify a function with the lighting color. For example, an LED that emits green light and an LED that emits red light are provided. When the shutter release function is assigned in the change assignment, the green LED emits light, and in other cases, the red LED emits light. It constitutes.
By applying these configurations to all the operation buttons 21 to 28, it can be understood at a glance that the operation button emitting a green LED is a button having a shutter release function, thereby preventing an erroneous operation. it can.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the operation button function assigning unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a timing chart of change assignment by the operation button function assigning unit 30. Also in the following description, like the description of the above-described embodiment, among the operation buttons 21 to 28, a function change target is referred to as an operation button 2X.

The difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is that the change assignment is not reset even when the photographing is finished and the main switch 20M is turned off. That is, even if the power is turned off, the change assignment setting once made to the operation buttons 21 to 28 is maintained.
The process flow for explaining the flow of the change assignment process in the present embodiment is the same as that from S01 to S04 not including S05 to S07 in FIG.
That is, when the main switch 20M is turned on (S01) and the power is turned on (S02), it is determined whether there is an operation button that is turned on at that time (S03).
If it is determined in step (S03) that there is an operation button 2X operated in the ON state, the retained change assignment is reset (S04).

  In the second embodiment, when it is desired to reassign the shutter release function to the shutter button 20S, the ON operation is performed when the main switch 20M is turned on, like the other operation buttons.

  According to the function assignment operation in the above embodiment, when one of the operation buttons 2X is not turned on when the main switch 20M is turned on next time, the change that was set when the main switch 20M was turned off last time. Start up with assignment settings. For this reason, once the change assignment is set, the change assignment is applied even if the ON / OFF operation of the main switch 20M is repeated. That is, when it is desired to always have a shutter release function for a specific operation button 2X, or when it is necessary to repeat ON / OFF operation of the main switch 20M frequently during shooting even for unusual shooting, Each time the switch 20M is turned on, there is no inconvenience of performing a change assignment operation (pressing operation button 2X).

  To reset the change assignment and return to the initial assignment, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 7, the main switch 20M may be turned on while the shutter button 20S is pressed.

As mentioned above, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, it has the following effects.
(1) The shutter release function can be set to the operation buttons 21 to 28 in the operation unit 20 other than the shutter button 20S. Thereby, it becomes possible to perform the shutter release operation by operating the operation buttons 21 to 28 at positions suitable for the photographing form of the photographer.

(2) When the electronic camera 10 is turned on, the shutter release function is assigned to the operation button (any one of 21 to 28) in the pressed state, so that any operation button is very easy. The shutter release function can be assigned to any one of 21 to 28.

(3) In the first embodiment, the change assignment is reset before the power is turned off. When the main switch 20M is turned on next time, if the change assignment operation is not performed, the initial assignment is performed. Since it starts up with settings, it is possible to prevent erroneous operation due to forgetting to reset the change assignment.

(4) By configuring each of the operation buttons 21 to 28 to display according to the function, the functions of the operation buttons 21 to 28 can be confirmed by visual observation, and a photo opportunity is missed due to an erroneous operation. Trouble can be prevented.

(5) In the second embodiment, when the main switch 20M is turned on, if the change assignment operation is not performed, the main switch 20M is changed to start up with the change assignment setting that was set when the main switch 20M was turned off last time. By adopting a configuration that holds the assignment, once the change assignment is set, the change assignment is applied even if the ON / OFF operation of the main switch 20M is repeated. Thus, in the case where it is desired to always provide a shutter release function for a specific operation button, a troublesome operation of performing a change assignment operation every time the main switch 20M is turned on becomes unnecessary.

(Deformation)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes as described below are possible, and these are also within the scope of the present invention.
(1) In this embodiment, the shutter release function is assigned to the first operation button 21 and the ISO sensitivity change function is assigned to the shutter button 20S. However, the operation buttons 21 to 28 whose functions are exchanged with the shutter button 20S are not limited to the first operation button 21, and may be any operation buttons 21 to 28.
(2) In the present embodiment, the operation buttons 21 to 28 in the operation unit 20 whose functions are exchanged with the shutter button 20S are operated by pressing the switches. For example, the switches are operated by sliding. There may be.
Note that the embodiment and the modification can be used in appropriate combination, but detailed description thereof is omitted. Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

  10: electronic camera, 20: operation unit, 20D: LCD panel, 20M: main switch, 20S: shutter button, 21: first operation button, 21-28: operation button, 30: operation button function assignment unit

Claims (7)

An imaging unit that captures a subject image;
A plurality of operating members;
When a first operating member of the plurality of operating members is operated, first control for starting imaging with the imaging unit is performed, and the second operating member among the plurality of operating members is operated. A control unit that performs a second control other than the first control ,
A third operating member for turning on and off the power of the camera ,
The control unit performs control performed when the second operation member is operated when the third operation member is operated to be turned on from off while the second operation member is operated. Is changed to the first control. The camera according to claim 1 ,
The control unit performs control performed when the first operating member is operated when changing the control performed when the second operating member is operated to the first control. Changing to control,
Camera characterized by. The camera according to claim 2 ,
When the control performed when the first operation member is operated is changed to the second control and then the third operation member is turned on from the off state, the control unit is A setting for performing the first control when the first operating member is operated;
Camera characterized by. The camera according to claim 3 .
The control unit sets the setting when an operation to turn on from the off state is performed by the third operation member in a state where the first operation member is operated,
Camera characterized by. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The second operation member includes a display unit on which control performed when an operation is performed is displayed in an identifiable manner,
Camera characterized by. The camera according to claim 2, 3 or 4 ,
The first operation member includes a display unit that displays control identifiable when an operation is performed;
Camera characterized by. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
The first operating member and the second operating member are operating members capable of being half-pressed and fully pressed;
Camera characterized by.

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