JP5262058B2 - Imaging apparatus, imaging control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce generation of a red eye while suppressing power consumption. <P>SOLUTION: When judgment in a step S206 becomes NO and it is judged that red-eye reduction is sufficient by repeatedly executing processing from a step S205, the processing progresses from the step S206 to a step S210 to execute photography processing. In addition, also when a count value N reaches red-eye reduction frequency limitation X, and judgment in a step S208 becomes YES though the judgment in the step S206 is YES and the red-eye reduction is insufficient, the processing progresses from the step S208 to the step S210 to execute the photography processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that performs red-eye reduction and an imaging apparatus control program.

Conventionally, when taking a picture of a person in a dark place, an imaging device has performed red-eye reduction flash that automatically fires the flash just before shooting, reducing red-eye generation by this red-eye reduction flash, and continuing to use the main flash. Along with this, photographing is performed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-39544 A

  However, conventionally, red-eye reduction light emission is executed at a certain light emission limit number or less. At this time, the number of light emission limits necessary for reducing the occurrence of red-eye varies depending on the shooting state such as the darkness of the surrounding environment during shooting. Therefore, when red-eye reduction light emission is performed at a certain light emission limit number, the number of light emission times may be more than necessary, and as a result, unnecessary power may be consumed for red-eye reduction light emission.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an imaging apparatus and an imaging apparatus control program that reduce the occurrence of red eyes while suppressing unnecessary power consumption.

In order to solve the above-described problem, in the imaging apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging unit, a light emitting unit, and a main light emission when recording a subject imaged by the imaging unit and at least one pre-shoot. First control means for causing the light emitting means to emit light a plurality of times by light emission, a battery for supplying power to the imaging apparatus including the imaging means and the light emitting means, and before pre-light emission by the first control means A first detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery, and a setting for setting the number of pre-light emission by the first control means based on the remaining amount of the battery detected by the first detecting means. Means.

The invention according to claim 2 is the imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second detection means for detecting the eye state of the subject imaged by the imaging means, and the second detection means. Based on the first determination means for determining whether the detected eye state is sufficiently reduced in red-eye and the determination result by the first determination means, the number of pre-light emission by the setting means is controlled. And a second control means.

The invention according to claim 3 is the imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the number of pre-lights emitted by the light-emitting unit is equal to the number of times of light emission. or it is determined that previous SL-th state is sufficiently red-eye reduction by the first determining means, when the number of the emitted pre-emission by said second determination means is determined to become the number of emissions, the a first recording means for recording the subject taken by the imaging means, the first state before Symbol eyes by determining means despite not determined to be sufficiently red-eye reduction, the second When it is determined that the number of pre-flashes emitted by the determination unit is equal to the number of flashes, the correction unit corrects the eye state so that red eyes are reduced, and the eye state is corrected by the correction unit. Record a subject Characterized by comprising a recording means further.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the imaging apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the light emission amount by the light emitting unit is controlled based on the eye state detected by the second detecting unit. The image pickup device further includes a control unit, and the image pickup unit picks up an image of the subject based on the light emission amount controlled by the third control unit .

Further, an invention according to claim 5, wherein an imaging apparatus according to claim 2, and a third detecting means for detecting ambient brightness of the image pickup device, the brightness detected by said third detecting means based at the, further characterized in that it comprises an imaging control means for controlling imaging by the imaging means

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the imaging apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein third detection means for detecting feature data of the subject imaged by the imaging means is associated with the feature data of the subject. A third recording means for recording the number of times or the amount of light to be emitted to the subject, and a pre-light emission by the setting means based on the number of times of light emission or the amount of light emission recorded in the third recording means . And third control means for controlling the number of times of light emission .

The invention according to claim 7 is the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the third recording unit stores feature data of the person's face as the feature data . And features.

Further, in the imaging control method according to the invention of claim 8, a control step of causing the light emitting means to emit light a plurality of times by main light emission when recording a subject to be imaged and at least one pre-light emission, Based on the detection step of detecting the remaining amount of the battery before the pre-light emission by the first control means and the remaining amount of the battery detected by the detection step, the number of pre-light emission by the control step is set. And a setting step.

In the program according to the invention described in claim 9, the control means for causing the computer to emit the light emitting means a plurality of times by the main light emission when recording the subject to be imaged and at least one pre-light emission, Based on detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery before the pre-light emission by the first control means and the remaining amount of the battery detected by the detection means, the number of times of the pre-light emission by the control means is set. It functions as a setting means.

According to the present invention, it is possible to take an image in consideration of the remaining battery capacity .

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical circuit configuration of the digital camera according to the present embodiment. The digital camera includes an optical lens 1, an image sensor 2 such as a CCD imaged by the optical lens 1, a TG 3 for driving the image sensor 2, and a CDS that holds an image signal output from the image sensor 2. The unit circuit 4 includes a gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) that amplifies the imaging signal and an A / D converter (AD) that converts the amplified imaging signal into a digital signal. The optical lens 1 is held by a lens driving circuit 5 having an AF motor or the like. The lens driving circuit 5 is driven by the control of the image processing circuit / CPU 6 to move in the optical axis direction and to the image sensor 2. Adjust the focus of the subject image to be formed. Further, at the time of AE control, the image pickup device 2 is driven by the TG 3 based on the shutter pulse sent from the image processing circuit / CPU 6 and its charge accumulation time is controlled. Thereby, an electronic shutter is realized.

  The image processing circuit / CPU 6 has various signal processing and image processing functions, generates a video signal from an imaging signal converted into a digital signal through the unit circuit 4, and captures an object image captured by the imaging device 2. Is displayed as a through image on the display device 7 including a TFT liquid crystal monitor or the like. Further, at the time of imaging, the image signal is compressed to generate an image file of a predetermined format, which is stored in the image recording medium 8 such as a flash memory, and at the time of reproduction, the compressed image file is expanded and displayed on the display device 7. Display.

  The image processing circuit / CPU 6 is connected to an operation key unit 9 including various switches such as a shutter key, a memory 10, and a strobe circuit 11. The memory 10 is a flash memory in which an operation program necessary for control of each unit and various data processing by the image processing circuit / CPU 6 is recorded, and stores a program for executing processing shown in a flowchart described later. Various data necessary for processing is stored.

  The strobe circuit 11 includes light emitting means. A strobe light emission signal is sent from the image processing circuit / CPU 6 via the TG 3, and the light emitting means emits light only while the strobe light emission signal is output. Proportional. At this time, the image of the subject that has received the strobe light is formed on the image sensor 2 via the optical lens 1, and the image sensor 2 outputs a signal. The signal output from the image pickup device 2 is sampled, amplified and digitized by the unit circuit 4 and sent to the image processing circuit / CPU 6. Then, it is converted into luminance in the image processing circuit / CPU 6, and luminance integration and histogram processing are performed.

  The light emitting means of the strobe circuit 11 may be a strobe discharge tube, another light emitting means such as an LED, or a plurality of light emitting means (for example, a strobe discharge tube and an LED are provided separately). ) Or a plurality of light emitting methods.

  In other words, in the case of red-eye reduction light emission, which will be described later, light is emitted from an LED, and in actual photographing, light is emitted from a strobe discharge tube to perform photographing.

  Further, in the case of red-eye reduction light emission, light emission may be performed without dimming, and light emission may be performed by dimming in actual shooting. As a result, red-eye reduction light emission is emitted many times, so that it is possible to reduce the power required for dimming.

  Further, in the case of red-eye reduction light emission, light emission may be performed with a relatively low light emission amount, and light emission may be performed with a relatively high light emission amount in actual shooting. Thereby, since red-eye reduction light emission is emitted many times, it is possible to save power by reducing the light emission amount of red-eye reduction light emission.

  In addition, in the case of light emission with R, G, and B, and red-eye reduction light emission, green light emission is performed using the G light source, and R, G, and B light sources are used during actual shooting. The light may be emitted with a color balance closer to that of sunlight. As a result, the human eye is more sensitive to green, making it easier to feel dazzling, making it possible to effectively reduce red-eye with less power, and contribute to reducing power consumption. At the same time, in actual shooting, light is emitted with a color balance close to that of sunlight, so that shooting with natural colors becomes possible.

  Further, the image processing circuit / CPU 6 is connected to the image pickup device 2 through the CDS / AD / AGC 4, and the light control sensor 12, the phase difference sensor 13, and the power supply circuit 14. The image sensor 2 detects ambient brightness during pre-emission and inputs it to the image processing circuit / CPU 6. The light control sensor 12 directly measures the light emission amount of the strobe during the main light emission. The phase difference sensor 13 detects the distance to the subject and inputs it to the image processing circuit / CPU 6. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the image processing circuit / CPU 6 can control the light emission amount of the strobe circuit 11 according to the ambient brightness based on the detection value of the image sensor 2, and measure the light control sensor 12. Based on the result, it is possible to control to stop the light emission when the main light emission amount reaches a desired amount, and to control the light emission amount of the strobe circuit 11 according to the distance to the subject based on the detection value of the phase difference sensor 13. can do. The power supply circuit 14 includes a battery and supplies power from the battery to each unit via the image processing circuit / CPU 6.

  In the present embodiment, the light control sensor 12 and the phase difference sensor 13 are provided. However, only one of them may be provided, or both of them are not mounted and the light control method is pre-installed. You may make it limit to a light emission system. Further, both the light control sensor 12 and the phase difference sensor 13 can be operated by operating the operation key unit 9 or only one of them can be operated. Further, the memory 10 may be a memory in which stored data such as a program can be rewritten as necessary, and a part of the program and data may be stored in the image recording medium 8. .

  Next, the operation of the digital camera having the above configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the setting mode processing. When the user selects the setting mode by operating the operation key unit 9, the image processing circuit / CPU 6 executes the processing shown in this flowchart according to the program stored in the memory 10. That is, an option of “Yes” or “No” for the red-eye reduction process is displayed on the display device 7 to determine whether or not “Yes” is selected (Step S101). If “YES” is selected, the red-eye reduction process “YES” is set (step S102).

  Next, the red eye limit number “1 time”, “2 times”, “3 times”,... Are displayed on the display device 7 to determine whether any of the red eye limit times X has been selected (step) S103). At this time, in consideration of ambient brightness, the user predicts how many light emission times the red eye can reduce, and selects the predicted number. If any one of the red eye limit times X is selected by the user, the selected number is set as the red eye reduction number X (step S104).

  Therefore, the red-eye limit number X can be set by a simple operation of selecting one of the options displayed on the display device 7.

  In addition, although the configuration in which the red-eye limit number X is directly specified is disclosed here, the configuration is not limited thereto.

  In other words, the digital camera may be configured to automatically calculate the red-eye limit number X from the set level data only by setting a level indicating the degree of red-eye limit.

  This red-eye limit number X is utilized for photographing while being automatically set and adjusted, as will be described later.

  In order to actually reduce red-eye, it may be necessary to emit a lot of light to reduce red-eye, but the light emission to reduce red-eye consumes power. Otherwise, the red-eye will not be reduced, and a large amount of power may be consumed just by taking a few shots, and such sudden power consumption may become a problem. By setting the red-eye limit number X in this way, this problem can be avoided.

  Further, the options of the red-eye limit number reduction mode “A” and “B” are displayed on the display device 7 to determine whether any of them is selected (step S105). If “A” is selected, the red-eye reduction mode A is set (step S106), and if “B” is selected, the red-eye reduction mode B is set (step S107).

  In addition, the display device 7 displays an option of “Yes” or “No” for the pre-flash setting, and determines whether “Yes” is selected (Step S108). If “YES” is selected, the pre-flash setting “YES” is set (step S109).

  After making the necessary settings in this way, when the user sets the shooting mode by operating the operation key unit 9 and fully presses the shutter key, the image processing circuit / CPU 6 performs the flowchart of FIG. 3 according to the program. The process shown in is executed.

  In addition, based on the detection signal from the image sensor 2 or the light control sensor 12, the brightness of the surroundings is detected, and when the brightness is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the flowchart of FIG. If the brightness is above a predetermined level, only normal shooting processing may be performed without performing red-eye reduction light emission and / or red-eye reduction image processing.

  Here, the initial value “1” is set to the count value N for counting the number of red-eye systems (step S201). Next, ambient brightness is detected based on the detection signal from the image sensor 2 or the light control sensor 12 (step S202).

  Then, the process proceeds to the next step S202-2, the remaining capacity of the battery is detected, and the red-eye reduction number limit X is automatically adjusted based on the detected remaining capacity (step S202-2).

  Specifically, when the remaining capacity of the battery becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the set red-eye reduction number limit X is decreased by a predetermined amount.

  Thereby, it is possible to take an image taking into consideration the remaining capacity of the battery.

  In this embodiment, the ambient brightness is detected when the shutter key is fully pressed. However, the ambient brightness may be detected when the shutter key is half-pressed. The ambient brightness may always be detected from the image. Thereby, a release time lag can be reduced.

  Following step S202-2, it is determined whether the ambient brightness detected in step S202 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S203). If the ambient brightness is greater than or equal to the predetermined value and the determination in step S203 is YES, the pre-flash process a is executed (step S204) and the red-eye reduction process is executed (step S205). Subsequently, based on the result of executing the red-eye reduction process, it is determined whether the red-eye reduction is still insufficient (step S206). The details of the determination process in step S206 are determined based on whether the red-eye insufficient flag set in steps S409 and S411 is on or off, as will be described later. If red-eye reduction is still insufficient, it is determined whether there is a limit on the number of red-eye reduction (step S207). At this time, if the determination in step S103 in the flowchart of FIG. 2 is NO and the red-eye limit number X is not set, the process returns from step S207 to step S205, and the process from step S205 is executed. To do.

  However, if the determination in step S103 described above is YES and the red eye limit number X is set by the process in step S104, the process proceeds from step S207 to step S207-2 to set the red eye limit number X. adjust.

  Here, the remaining amount of energy stored in the battery is detected, and the red-eye reduction number limit X is changed based on this remaining amount.

  That is, when the remaining energy of the battery becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the setting of the red-eye reduction number limit X is automatically changed (the value of X is decreased).

  At the same time, the energy consumption of the battery due to red-eye reduction light emission is based on the number of times of light emission and the amount of light emission. Therefore, the emission of light emission made with red-eye reduction light emission performed in this shooting (a series of processes after the shutter button is pressed). Based on the number of times and the light emission amount, or simply based on the light emission amount, the red eye reduction number limit X is changed.

  For example, first, the amount of energy consumed is calculated based on the number of times of light emission and the amount of light emission, and the current state (degree) of red eyes is determined (see step S407). And to reduce the red-eye to a certain extent, it is predicted how much energy will be consumed. Then, the red eye reduction number limit X may be set and changed in consideration of the amount of energy required to reduce the red eye to the predicted predetermined level.

  In addition, for example, in consideration of the amount of light emitted immediately before, the red-eye reduction number limit X may be set to be decreased a predetermined number of times when light is emitted at a predetermined amount or more.

  At this time, the red-eye reduction processing (steps S510, S707, and S708) by image processing, which will be described later, may be configured to change the setting in accordance with the red-eye reduction frequency limit X that has been changed.

  For example, the setting may be changed so that the degree of red-eye reduction processing by this image processing increases as the red-eye reduction number limit X decreases.

  Further, for example, the setting may be changed so that the degree of red-eye reduction processing by the image processing is weakened as the red-eye reduction number limit X is increased.

  This not only reduces power consumption but also makes it easier to obtain a desired captured image.

  Then, the process proceeds from step S207-2 to step S208, and it is determined whether or not the count value N exceeds the red-eye reduction number limit X. If the determination in step S208 is NO and the count value N does not exceed the red-eye reduction count limit X, the count value N is incremented (step S209), and the processing from step S205 is repeated.

  In this way, by repeatedly executing the processing from step S205, if the determination in step S206 is NO and it is determined that red-eye reduction is sufficient, the process proceeds from this step S206 to step S210, and the main photographing process. Execute a. Also, if the determination in step S206 is YES and red-eye reduction is insufficient, the count value N reaches the red-eye reduction number limit X, and the determination in step S208 is also YES. The process proceeds from step S208 to step S210, and a main photographing process a described later is executed.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step S203 is NO and the ambient brightness is less than the predetermined value (when it is extremely dark) (step S211), the main photographing process b is executed. (Step S212).

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing the procedure of the pre-flash process a (step S204). It is determined whether or not the pre-flash setting has been made (step S301). At this time, when the process of step S109 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is executed and the pre-flash setting “YES” is selected in advance, the determination of step S301 is YES and the pre-flash setting “NO” is set. If it is pre-selected, it will be NO. Then, only when the determination in step S301 is YES and the pre-flash setting “ON” is selected in advance, the flash circuit 11 is controlled to perform pre-flash (step S302).
Therefore, the image sensor 2 detects ambient brightness during pre-emission and inputs it to the image processing circuit / CPU 6.

  The ambient brightness is detected by the image sensor 2 here, but the light control sensor 12 may naturally be used.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the red-eye reduction light emission processing (step S205). First, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time T has elapsed (step S401). The predetermined time T determined in step S401 may be a fixed value, but is preferably a value that can be set and changed by an operation of the operation key unit 9 by the user, and the remaining amount of the battery in the power supply circuit 14 It is good also as what increases / decreases by.

  Specifically, when the remaining amount of the battery is large, the value of the predetermined time T may be a relatively small value. Conversely, when the remaining amount of the battery is small, the value of the predetermined time T may be a relatively large value. Accordingly, it is possible to determine a more appropriate value of T according to the remaining amount of the battery from the viewpoint of suppressing the power consumption of the battery.

  When the predetermined time T has elapsed and the determination in step S401 is YES, red-eye reduction light emission is executed, and the light emitting means of the strobe circuit 11 is caused to perform light emission operation (step S402). When the mode A is selected in step S105, the light emission amount at this time is different for each light emission, so light emission is performed with the light emission amount set in step S410 or step S417, and in step S105. When mode B is selected, the light emission amount for each light emission is predetermined (for example, constant), and light emission is performed after the light emission amount is determined accordingly. Also, provisional photographing processing is executed, and subject image data from the image sensor 2 converted into a digital signal through the unit circuit 4 is temporarily stored in the memory 10 (step S403).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the count value N is 1 (step S404).
If it is determined that N = 1, a face is detected in the subject image stored in the memory 10 using a known feature extraction process (step S412).

  Here, the human feature data extracted by the feature extraction processing is a face, but it may not be a face. For example, pupil characteristics may be detected. The pupil authentication technique is well known. Similarly, the mouth and ear features may be detected in the same manner. These can be detected in the same manner by performing a known process such as pattern matching.

  Subsequent to step S412, it is determined whether or not the detected face is registered in the memory 10 in advance by the processing of steps S507 and S508 described later (step S413). If the detected face is registered in the memory 10, as will be described later, the red-eye reduction flash count (red-eye reduction flash count) necessary for eliminating the red-eye occurrence of the face person corresponding to the detected face. Y) and the amount of light emission corresponding to each light emission for each red-eye reduction light emission is registered as registration data, and this registration data is read (step S414).

Subsequent to step S414, the face flag K is set to the ON state (step S415).
Subsequent to step S415, it is determined whether or not the count value N is larger than the red-eye reduction light emission count Y read in step S414 (step S416).

  If it is determined in step S416 that the count value N is not greater than the red-eye reduction light emission count Y read in step S414, and the mode A is set in step S106, the value of the count value N Then, based on the registration data read in step S414 (red-eye reduction emission count Y and the emission amount corresponding to each emission of the red-eye reduction emission), the emission amount in the next red-eye reduction emission is determined (step S417). If mode B is set in step S106, this step is not executed.

  If it is determined in step S413 that the face detected in step S412 is not registered in the memory 10 or if N = 1 is not determined in step S404, the process proceeds to step S405, and the face flag K is ON. Judge whether there is. (Step S405)

  If it is determined that the face flag K is ON, the process proceeds to step 416.

  If it is determined that the face flag K is not in the ON state (OFF state), the process proceeds to step S406.

  Then, the pupil is detected from the temporarily captured image provisionally captured in step S403 (step S406). Further, the state of the pupil (the color and the size of the red eye) in the detected pupil is detected, and the state is determined to determine the red eye state of the pupil (step S407).

  Next, it is determined which of the red-eye reduction modes A and B is set in advance by the processing in steps S105 to S107 in FIG. 2 (step S408). When the red-eye reduction mode A is set, the right or wrong of the next red-eye reduction light emission is determined (step S409), and the light emission amount is calculated for the next red-eye reduction light emission (step S410). However, when the red-eye reduction mode B is set, only whether or not the next red-eye reduction light emission is right is determined without calculating the light emission amount for the next red-eye reduction light emission (step S411).

Here, “determining whether to emit light for the next red-eye reduction light emission” in steps S409 and S411 is the following processes (1) and (2).
(1) Based on the red-eye state determination (step S407), if the red-eye reduction effect is still insufficient, the red-eye insufficient flag is turned on, and if the red-eye reduction effect is sufficient, the red-eye insufficient flag is turned off. To do.
(2) If the detected face is registered, registration data of the number of red-eye reduction emission and the amount of light emission necessary for eliminating the red-eye occurrence of the person with the face is read out in step S405. Therefore, based on this registration data, if the red eye reduction emission number or emission amount necessary for the face is not reached, the red eye insufficient flag is turned ON, and the red eye reduction emission number or emission amount required for the face is obtained. If the red-eye insufficient flag is turned off.

  Therefore, in step S206 in the flowchart of FIG. 3, if the red-eye insufficient flag is ON based on the state of the red-eye insufficient flag, it is determined that red-eye reduction is still insufficient (YES), and the red-eye insufficient When the sufficient flag is OFF, it is determined that red-eye reduction is sufficient (NO).

  When the red-eye reduction mode A is set, the “calculation of the light emission amount for the next red-eye reduction light emission” executed in step S410 includes the red-eye state and the next light emission amount determined in advance in step S407. May be stored in the memory 10, and the next light emission amount corresponding to the red-eye state may be read from the table, or an arithmetic expression using the red-eye state determined in step S407 as a variable Thus, the next light emission amount may be calculated.

  Of course, when the processing of steps S507 and S508, which will be described later, is executed, and the memory 10 stores the light emission amount necessary for eliminating the occurrence of red eyes in the face, the next light emission amount is stored. The amount of emitted light is.

  If the red-eye reduction mode A is set when the processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is executed next time, the red-eye reduction light emission in step S402 is performed with the light emission amount calculated in step S410. Is made.

  However, when the red-eye reduction mode B is set, the processing in step S410 is not executed, and thus the red-eye reduction light emission in step S402 is performed with a predetermined (for example, constant) light emission amount.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the main photographing process a (step S210). First, it is determined whether or not pre-light emission has occurred (step S501). That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4A, in the pre-light emission process a, there is a case where the pre-light emission is performed (step S302) and a case where the pre-light emission process a is not performed. Judging.

  When the pre-light emission is performed, the main light emission amount is calculated by the main issue calculation process (1) which is a known light amount calculation method based on the ambient brightness detected by the image sensor 2 (step S502). In addition, although the ambient brightness is detected by the image sensor 2 here, it may be naturally detected by the light control sensor 12.

  When the pre-flash is not emitted, the main light emission amount is calculated by the main issue calculation processing (2) which is a known light emission amount calculation method (flashmatic) based on the distance to the subject detected by the phase difference sensor 13. (Step S503).

In this case, the flashmatic detects the distance to the subject by the phase difference sensor 13, but this may not be the case and the distance measurement by contrast AF may be used instead. There is no need to mount the phase difference sensor 13.

  Subsequently, the main light emission is executed, and the light emission means of the strobe circuit 11 is caused to emit light with the light emission amount calculated in step S502 or step S503 (step S504).

  Further, the main photographing process is executed, and the subject image data from the image sensor 2 converted into a digital signal through the unit circuit 4 is temporarily stored in the memory 10 (step S505).

  Here, the main light emission in S504 is configured to emit light with the light emission amount calculated in Step S502 or Step S503. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when pre-light emission is not performed in Step S501, The light emission amount at the time of the main light emission is measured using the light control sensor 12 without calculating the main light emission amount by the flashmatic, and the light emission is stopped when it is determined that the light emission amount becomes a predetermined amount. You may determine the light emission amount of this light emission by the light control sensor system which is a well-known light control method. Thereby, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to determine the main light emission amount in advance.

  Next, it is determined whether or not red eyes are generated in the subject image stored in the memory 10 (step S506). If there is no occurrence of red eyes, a face that does not have red eyes in the subject image is recognized and extracted (step S507). Further, the extracted face (facial feature data), the number of red-eye reduction emission (step S205, more specifically, step S402) executed prior to the main photographing process (red-eye reduction emission count Y), and emission When the amount is controlled (step S410), the light emission amount at the time of each red-eye reduction light emission is registered in the memory 10 (step S508).

  Therefore, by executing the processing of steps S507 and S508, the memory 10 can sequentially store and store the red-eye reduction light emission count and light emission amount necessary for eliminating the occurrence of red eye for each person's face. .

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not “Yes” for the red-eye reduction process is set in step S102 of FIG. 2 described above (step S509). If “YES” is set for the red-eye reduction process, the red-eye reduction process is executed (step S510). The red-eye reduction process in step S510 is an image process for reducing the redness of the pupil portion in the subject image stored in the memory 10 in step S505.

  In a situation where red eyes are present, the pupil is larger than usual, so the size of the pupil may be corrected at the same time.

  Here, even if it is determined that red-eye reduction is still insufficient in step S206 in the flowchart of FIG. 3 (YES), if N> X in step S208 and the number of red-eye reduction reaches the set number, In S210, the main photographing process a is executed. Therefore, in this case, the main photographing process a (step S210) is executed in a state where red eyes can occur.

  However, if the user sets the red-eye reduction process “Yes” in advance, the red-eye generated in the image during the main shooting process a can be reduced by the process in step S510. Therefore, the power consumption of the battery included in the power supply circuit 14 can be reduced by setting the number of red-eye reductions X, and the occurrence of red eyes in the captured image can be reduced.

  Then, a recording process is performed in the next step S511, and the image subjected to the red-eye reduction process temporarily stored in the memory 10 is stored in the image recording medium 10. At this time, when the red-eye reduction process in step S510 is executed, both the image before the red-eye reduction process and the image after the red-eye reduction process may be stored in association with each other. Alternatively, the image before the red-eye reduction processing and the partial image of the red-eye reduction processing portion may be stored in association with each other, the image after the red-eye reduction processing, and the partial image of the portion changed from the image before the red-eye reduction processing May be stored in association with each other.

  Here, if both the image before the red-eye reduction processing and the image after the red-eye reduction processing are stored in association with each other, when the images are reproduced and displayed on the display device 7 at a later date, the user can reduce the red-eye reduction based on the difference between the two. It is possible to confirm the effect of the processing and to learn how much red-eye is corrected by how much red-eye is corrected.

FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the pre-flash processing b (step S211). It is determined whether or not the pre-flash setting has been made (step S601). At this time, when the process of step S109 is executed and the pre-flash setting “YES” is selected in advance, the determination in step S306 is YES, and the pre-flash setting “NO” is selected in advance. Is NO. Then, only when the determination in step S601 is YES and the pre-flash setting “ON” is selected in advance, the flash circuit 11 is controlled to perform pre-flash (step S602).
Therefore, the image sensor 2 detects ambient brightness during pre-emission and inputs it to the image processing circuit / CPU 6.

  The ambient brightness is detected by the image sensor 2 here, but the light control sensor 12 may naturally be used.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the main photographing process a (step S210). First, it is determined whether or not pre-light emission has occurred (step S701). That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4B, in the pre-light emission process b, there are a case where the pre-light emission is performed (step S602) and a case where the pre-light emission process b is not performed. Judging.

  When the pre-light emission is performed, the main light emission amount is calculated by the main issue calculation process (1) which is a known light emission amount calculation method based on the ambient brightness detected by the image sensor 2 (step S702). In addition, although the ambient brightness is detected by the image sensor 2 here, it may be naturally detected by the light control sensor 12.

  When the pre-flash is not emitted, the main light emission amount is calculated by the main issue calculation processing (2) which is a known light emission amount calculation method (flashmatic) based on the distance to the subject detected by the phase difference sensor 13. (Step S703).

  In this case, the flashmatic detects the distance to the subject by the phase difference sensor 13, but this may not be the case and the distance measurement by contrast AF may be used instead. There is no need to mount the phase difference sensor 13.

  Subsequently, the main light emission is executed, and the light emission means of the strobe circuit 11 is caused to perform the light emission operation with the light emission amount calculated in step S702 or S703 (step S704). Further, the main photographing process is executed, and the subject image data from the image sensor 2 converted into a digital signal through the unit circuit 4 is temporarily stored in the memory 10 (step S705).

  Here, the main light emission in S704 is configured to emit light with the light emission amount calculated in Step S702 or Step S703. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when pre-light emission is not performed in Step S701, The light emission amount at the time of the main light emission is measured using the light control sensor 12 without calculating the main light emission amount by the flashmatic, and the light emission is stopped when it is determined that the light emission amount becomes a predetermined amount. You may determine the light emission amount of this light emission by the light control sensor system which is a well-known light control method. Thereby, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to determine the main light emission amount in advance.

  Subsequently, it is determined what type of red-eye reduction processing is to be executed (step S706). This step S706 is performed by determining in advance whether any of the red-eye reduction modes A and B is set by the processing in steps S105 to S107 of FIG. If the red-eye reduction mode A is set, red-eye reduction processing is executed (step S707). The red-eye reduction processing in step S705 is image processing for reducing the redness of the pupil portion in the subject image stored in the memory 10 in step S705, similar to the processing in step S510 described above.

  In a situation where red eyes are present, the pupil is larger than usual, so the size of the pupil may be corrected at the same time.

  If the red-eye reduction mode B is set, the red-eye reduction process is executed after further enhancing the red eye in terms of software (step S708). The process in step S708 is the same as the process disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-305141, and the red-eye portion in the subject image stored in the memory 10 in step S705 is enhanced. The red-eye portion that has been enhanced is corrected to reduce red-eye. Thereby, as described in the publication, it is possible to surely correct red-eye.

  In the present invention, since the main shooting is performed particularly when it is determined in step S203 that the ambient brightness is darker than the predetermined value, a captured image with a stronger red eye is acquired and the red eye is recognized. Therefore, there is a merit that is combined with the image processing disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-305141.

  In a situation where red eyes are present, the pupil is larger than usual, so the size of the pupil may be corrected at the same time.

  Therefore, the red-eye reduction processing method can be selected by setting either of the red-eye reduction modes A and B in advance.

  Here, the main photographing process b described above is executed when the determination in step S203 in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is NO, and in a dark state where the ambient brightness is less than a predetermined value. When photographing is performed in such a dark state, red eyes are surely generated in the image photographed in the main photographing (step S705) because the pupil is wide open. Therefore, by executing the red-eye reduction process in step S707 or step S708 on the image in which red eyes are surely generated in this way, the photographed image can be surely made into an image in which red eyes are reduced. .

  In step S709, a recording process is performed, and the image subjected to the red-eye reduction process temporarily stored in the memory 10 is stored in the image recording medium 10. At this time, similarly to step S508 described above, both the image before the red-eye reduction process and the image after the red-eye reduction process may be stored in association with each other. Alternatively, the image before the red-eye reduction processing and the partial image of the red-eye reduction processing portion may be stored in association with each other, the image after the red-eye reduction processing, and the partial image of the portion changed from the image before the red-eye reduction processing May be stored in association with each other.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the mode A is set and the red-eye reduction count is set, (A1 ), Red-eye reduction light emission 1, 2, 3,... Is performed up to a limited number of times while the light emission amount is controlled, and main photographing with main light emission is subsequently executed.
If the mode A is set and the red-eye reduction count is not set, as shown in (A2), the red-eye reduction light emission 1, 2, 3,.・ When it is determined that red-eye reduction is sufficient or the number of registrations is reached, the main shooting with the main flash is executed.

Also, as shown in FIG. 8 (2), when the mode B is set and the number of red-eye reductions is set, as shown in (B1), the red-eye is emitted with a predetermined light emission amount. Reduced light emission 1, 2, 3,... Is performed up to the limited number of times, and main photographing with main light emission is subsequently executed.
When the mode B is set and the red-eye reduction count is not set, as shown in (B2), red-eye reduction light emission 1, 2, 3,... When it is determined that red-eye reduction is sufficient or the number of registrations is reached, the main photographing with the main light emission is executed.

  Therefore, in any case (A1) (A2) (B1) (B2), the red-eye reduction light emission 1, 2, 3,... Shown in FIG. In this case, it is possible to prevent the case where the pre-light emission is performed with the amount of light emission or the number of times of light emission more than necessary as in the conventional case where the main light emission is performed, and as a result, unnecessary power is consumed for the pre-light emission. Can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the pre-flash process a is performed in step S204, but the pre-flash process a may be omitted depending on the situation. Thereby, the power consumption of the battery resulting from the pre-light emission by the pre-light emission process a can be avoided.

  As described above, the light emission means of the strobe circuit 11 may be a strobe discharge tube or other light emission means such as EL or LED, but the red-eye reduction light emission in step S402 is an LED. It is preferable for power saving. Also, a pair of strobe circuits 11 are provided, and pre-flash (steps S204 and S211) and main flash (steps S504 and S704) are performed by one strobe circuit, and red-eye reduction light (step S402) is performed by the other strobe circuit. You may do it. Further, only the light source for red-eye reduction light emission in step S402 may be provided separately from other light sources.

  In the above embodiment, three light control methods are disclosed. However, it is naturally not necessary to provide all the light control methods, and only one light control method may be provided. Thereby, it becomes possible to omit the mounting of a detection device such as a light control sensor or a phase difference sensor. Further, only a desired dimming method from the three dimming methods may be mounted, or a dimming method that is used in combination with the above dimming methods may be employed. Of course, another light control method may be adopted.

Incidentally, it is described that there are the following merits and demerits in mounting the above-mentioned three dimming methods.
(1) Pre-light emission method In recent years, this method is usually used because it usually has the best cost performance.
Pre-light emission is performed before the main light emission, and the main light emission amount is determined by calculation from the dimming result obtained at that time.
If an image sensor is provided, there is no need for a dimming sensor or a phase difference sensor, and it is excellent in that the amount of main light emission can be determined by actually measuring the light reflected by the subject to be photographed by pre-emission. .
(2) Dimming sensor system By using a dimming sensor, the reflected light from the subject is received by the dimming sensor while the flash is being emitted during the main flash without using pre-flash. By integrating the amount and stopping the flash emission when a predetermined amount of light is obtained, appropriate light control can be performed.
Although there is a merit that it is not necessary to perform pre-light emission that consumes power, there is a problem in that the cost of the light control sensor is increased.
In addition, in the case of the light control sensor method, there is a problem that the sensitivity is generally narrow and it is not possible to cope with shooting with high sensitivity and low sensitivity.
In addition, there is a problem that it is not compatible with the normal TTL system.
(3) Flashmatic method This is a method of measuring the distance from a subject and determining the flash emission amount based on the distance.
Neither pre-flash nor dimming sensor is required, but when actually taking a picture, the reflectance varies depending on the subject (for example, white or black), so it is not always possible to calculate an appropriate amount of light by just the distance. There is a problem.
Further, when ranging, if a phase difference sensor is mounted, ranging accuracy is high, but costs are high. Therefore, ranging by contrast AF may be used instead.

  In the above embodiment, depending on the shooting, the configuration is such that the main shooting is performed after the red-eye reduction emission is performed. The eye portion may be extracted to determine whether the eye is red or not, and the state of the eye may be determined. When it is determined that the eye state is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the main photographing may be performed again. Even with this method, it is possible to obtain a photographed image whose red-eye state is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

  In the above embodiment, (Red-eye reduction issuance & provisional shooting) → (Red-eye reduction issuance & provisional photography) → (Red-eye reduction issuance & provisional photography) → (Red-eye reduction issuance & provisional photography) → (→ Adjustment) Although the embodiment is disclosed as follows: (Main flash & main shooting) → (Main flash & main shooting) → (Main flash & main shooting) → (Main flash & main shooting) → -> (Adjusted light emission limit count)-> (Main light emission & main photographing). At this time, it is possible to save all the images acquired by the main shooting, or to save only one last shot, or to store all the main shooting images of a series of shootings in association with each other. You may make it.

  In the above embodiment, (Red-eye reduction issuance & provisional shooting) → (Red-eye reduction issuance & provisional photography) → (Red-eye reduction issuance & provisional photography) → (Red-eye reduction issuance & provisional photography) → (→ Adjustment) Although the embodiment is disclosed as follows: (light emission) → (light emission) → (light emission) →... → (adjusted light emission limit number) → ( (Flash & actual shooting).

  In the same manner as in the above embodiment, the light emission limit number may be configured to detect the remaining amount of energy of the battery and to reduce the light emission limit number by a predetermined amount when the remaining amount is less than a predetermined value. Absent.

1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a setting mode process. It is a flowchart which shows a main routine. It is a flowchart which shows the pre light emission process a and b process sequence. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a red-eye reduction light emission process. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of this imaging | photography process a. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of this imaging | photography process b. It is explanatory drawing which shows this Embodiment and the conventional light emission form.

Explanation of symbols

1 Optical Lens 2 Image Sensor 3 TG
4 Unit circuit 6 Image processing circuit / CPU
8 Image Recording Medium 9 Operation Key Unit 10 Memory 11 Strobe Circuit 12 Light Control Sensor 13 Phase Difference Sensor 14 Power Supply Circuit

Claims (9)

Imaging means;
A light emitting means;
First control means for causing the light emitting means to emit light a plurality of times by main light emission when recording a subject imaged by the imaging means and at least one pre-light emission;
A battery for supplying power to the imaging device including the imaging means and the light emitting means;
First detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery before pre-light emission by the first control means ;
An imaging apparatus comprising: setting means for setting the number of pre-light emission times by the first control means based on the remaining battery level detected by the first detection means. Second detection means for detecting the eye state of the subject imaged by the imaging means;
First determination means for determining whether or not the eye state detected by the second detection means is sufficiently reduced in red-eye;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second control unit configured to control the number of pre-emissions by the setting unit based on a determination result by the first determination unit. Whether or not the number of times of pre-light emission emitted by the light emitting means has reached the number of times of light emission;
When it is determined by the first determination means that the eye state is sufficiently reduced in red-eye, or when it is determined that the number of pre-flashes emitted by the second determination means has reached the number of times of light emission, First recording means for recording a subject imaged by the imaging means;
It is determined that the number of pre-flashes emitted by the second determination unit is equal to the number of flashes although the first determination unit does not determine that the eye state is sufficiently reduced in red-eye. A correcting means for correcting the eye state so that the red eye is reduced;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a second recording unit that records a subject in an eye state corrected by the correcting unit. Further comprising third control means for controlling the amount of light emitted by the light emitting means based on the eye state detected by the second detecting means;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the imaging unit images a subject based on a light emission amount controlled by the third control unit. Third detection means for detecting brightness around the imaging device;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an imaging control unit that controls imaging by the imaging unit based on brightness detected by the third detection unit. Third detection means for detecting feature data of the subject imaged by the imaging means;
A third recording means for recording the number of times or the amount of light to be emitted to the subject in association with the feature data of the subject;
The third control means for controlling the number of pre-light emission times by the setting means based on the number of light emission times or the light emission amount recorded in the third recording means. Imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third recording unit stores feature data of the person's face as the feature data. A control step of causing the light emitting means to emit light a plurality of times by main light emission when recording a subject to be imaged and at least one pre-light emission;
A detection step of detecting a remaining amount of the battery before pre-emission by the first control means ;
An imaging control method comprising: a setting step of setting the number of pre-emissions in the control step based on the remaining battery level detected in the detection step. Computer
Control means for causing the light emitting means to emit light a plurality of times by main light emission when recording a subject to be imaged and at least one pre-light emission;
Detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of the battery before pre-light emission by the first control means ;
A program that functions as a setting unit that sets the number of pre-emissions by the control unit based on the remaining battery level detected by the detection unit.

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