JP5267133B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a projection display device that automatically turns off a projection lamp when a video signal is not output from a camera or the like (see the following publication).

JP 2001-133880 A

  If you forget to turn off the power switch and store the projection display device in a case or bag, or if the power switch of the projection display device stored in the case or bag is turned on by external force, There is a problem in that the battery discharges without the user's knowledge, causing unnecessary power consumption and heat generation.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a problem thereof is to provide a camera capable of preventing wasteful power consumption and heat generation.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a projector having an imaging means for acquiring a subject image via a photographing lens, a projection lens and a light source for projection, and the projection during projection by the projector. Determining means for determining whether or not the front face of the lens is blocked; and an extinguishing control means for turning off the light source when the determining means determines that the front face of the projection lens is blocked. The determination unit determines whether the front surface of the projection lens is blocked based on the output of the imaging unit .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging means for acquiring a subject image via a photographing lens, a projector having a projection lens and a light source for projection, and the front of the projection lens is blocked during projection by the projector. Determining means for determining whether or not the light is removed, and an extinguishing control means for turning off the light source when the determining means determines that the front surface of the projection lens is closed. Further, it is determined whether or not the front surface of the projection lens is blocked based on a detection result of an autofocus means for detecting a distance between the photographing lens and the subject .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging means for acquiring a subject image via a photographing lens, a projector having a projection lens and a light source for projection, and the front of the projection lens is blocked during projection by the projector. Determining means for determining whether or not the light is removed; and an extinguishing control means for extinguishing the light source when the judging means determines that the front surface of the projection lens is closed. Is characterized in that after the light source is turned off, the supply of power from the power source of the projector and the power source of the camera body is stopped .

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the camera according to claim 1, wherein the output of said image pickup means is information corresponding to the brightness or contrast of the subject image.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the first aspect, the output of the imaging means is parallax information between the photographing lens and the projection lens .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to any one of the first , second, fourth , and fifth aspects, an optical axis of the photographing lens and an optical axis of the projection lens are substantially parallel. And

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, a warning means for outputting at least one of sound and light is provided.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the seventh aspect, the extinguishing control means drives the warning means before the light source is extinguished, when the light source is extinguished, or after the extinguishing.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to any one of the first , second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth aspects, the turn-off control means turns off the light source, and then the projector. The power supply from the power source of the camera and the power source of the camera body is stopped.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the seventh or eighth aspect, the extinguishing control unit stops supplying power from the power source of the projector and the power source of the camera body after driving the warning unit. It is characterized by.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the tenth aspect , the extinguishing control unit drives the warning unit when the supply of power from the power source is stopped.

  According to the present invention, wasteful power consumption and heat generation can be prevented.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a sequence for turning off the power supply at the time of a light source point or the like. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between parallax and projection distance.

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

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In front of the body 10 of the camera 1, a photographing lens 101, a flash window 102 that sends out flash light, and a projection lens 103 of a projector unit (projector) 20 that projects an image are provided. A release button 104 is provided on the upper surface of the body 10. Although not shown, operation members such as an LCD display, a zoom button, and a camera / projector switching button are provided on the back of the body 10. The body 10 houses a battery (power source) 40 of a camera body (not shown), a control circuit 30, a projector unit 20, and the like. A part other than the projector unit 20 is a camera body.

  The control circuit 30 is, for example, a one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer). The control circuit 30 controls the photographing operation and the projection operation based on the control program. The control program is stored in, for example, a nonvolatile memory (not shown) in the control circuit 30.

  The control circuit 30 functions as a determination unit that determines whether or not the front surface of the projection lens 103 is closed during projection by the projector unit 20.

  Further, the control circuit 30 functions as an extinguishing control unit that turns off the light source 21 when it is determined that the front surface of the projection lens 103 is blocked.

  The taking lens 101 is driven back and forth in the optical axis direction based on a taking lens drive signal output from the control circuit 30.

  The photographing lens 101 forms an image of a subject on an imaging surface of an imaging element (imaging means) (not shown). The image sensor outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the received light. The electrical signal is sent to the control circuit 30 as information corresponding to the brightness or contrast of the subject image.

  The projection lens 103 is driven back and forth in the optical axis direction based on the projection lens drive signal output from the control circuit 30.

  If the amount of light that illuminates the subject at the time of shooting is small, the exposure amount will be insufficient or camera shake will occur. Therefore, the subject is irradiated with flash light through the flash window 102.

  The release button 104 is an operation button for performing a release operation.

  The projector unit 20 includes, for example, a light source 21 using an LED that emits high-luminance light, a liquid crystal panel (not shown) that displays an image based on a control signal from the control circuit 30, and the liquid crystal panel. And a projection lens 103 for enlarging the image on a screen (not shown). The light source 21 is driven by a power source 40.

  Note that the optical axis of the photographing lens 101 and the optical axis of the projection lens 103 are substantially parallel, and the photographing direction and the projection direction are the same direction. When the front surface of the projection lens 103 or the vicinity thereof is not blocked, the projection image projected from the projector unit 20 onto the screen falls within the shooting range, so that the subject image can be obtained even in a dark place such as a bag. The brightness of becomes higher. On the other hand, when the front surface of the projection lens 103 or the vicinity thereof is blocked, the projected image does not enter the imaging range, so the brightness of the subject image is low. Therefore, it can be determined that the front surface of the projection lens 103 is blocked.

  Next, FIG. 2 explains the operation of the camera 1 based on the flowchart and FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a sequence for turning off the power supply 40 at the time of a light source point or the like. In FIG. 2, S1 to S10 indicate the steps of the above sequence.

  First, the light source 21 of the projector unit 20 is turned on (S1).

  Next, based on the output of the image sensor, it is determined whether or not the brightness of the subject image is equal to or less than a specified value (whether or not the front of the projection lens 103 is blocked during the projection of the projector unit 20) (S2). ).

  When the brightness of the subject image is not less than the specified value (NO), it is determined that the front of the projection lens 103 is not blocked during the projection of the projector unit 20, and waits for a predetermined time (60 seconds in this embodiment) ( S3). After a predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to step S2, and it is determined again whether or not the brightness of the subject image is equal to or less than a specified value. An increase in power consumption caused by repeating a predetermined sequence by waiting for a predetermined time can be suppressed.

  When the brightness of the subject image is equal to or less than the specified value (YES), it is determined that the front of the projection lens 103 is blocked during the projection by the projector unit 20, and waits for one second (S4).

  Thereafter, 1 is added to a counter (not shown) (S5). The count number of the counter is cleared to “0” at the start of the sequence. By using the counter, the power supply from the battery 40 is stopped when the front surface of the projection lens 103 is temporarily blocked (for example, when the front surface of the projection lens 103 is blocked by a finger). Can be prevented.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the count number by the counter is 10 (S6). When the count number does not reach a predetermined value (for example, 10) (NO), the processes in steps S2 to S6 are repeated.

  When the count number reaches a predetermined value (YES), a warning is given that power supply from the battery 40 is stopped (S7). As a warning method, for example, a warning sound is emitted from a speaker (not shown), an LED blinks, or information such as “power supply from the battery is stopped” is displayed on the LCD display. There are methods and warning methods that combine these methods as appropriate. As the warning LED, any of an LED indicating that the battery 40 is on, an LED indicating charging of the flash device, and an LED as auxiliary light for autofocusing may be used. Therefore, the speaker, LED, and LCD display function as the warning means of claim 7.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not an avoidance signal for avoiding the stop of power supply from the battery 40 has been input (ON) (S8). The avoidance signal is input, for example, when the user presses a switch (not shown) provided on the body 10.

  When the avoidance signal is on (YES), the process returns to step S3.

  When the avoidance signal is not on (NO), the light source 21 of the projector unit 20 is turned off (S9).

  Finally, power supply from the battery 40 is stopped (OFF) (S10).

  According to this embodiment, since the light source 21 of the projector unit 20 is controlled to be turned on / off according to the brightness around the camera 1, wasteful power consumption and heat generation can be prevented. In addition, since the power supply of the battery 40 is stopped after the light source 21 is turned off, power consumption and heat generation can be further reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the warning is given before the light source 21 is turned off. However, the warning may be given when the light source 21 is turned off or after the light source 21 is turned off.

  Moreover, you may make it perform the warning by a sound or light again after step S10 which stops the electric power supply of the battery 40. FIG.

  Further, in the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not the front surface of the projection lens 103 is blocked based on the brightness of the subject image, but may be determined based on the contrast of the subject image.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the camera 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between parallax and projection distance. FIG. 5A is a view of the camera 1 as viewed from the front, the plane, and the side. FIG. 5B shows the relationship between the shooting range and the projection range. In FIG. 3, S21 to S30 show the steps of the sequence when the power source 40 of the projector unit 20 at the time of the light source point, etc. is turned off.

  In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the front of the projection lens 103 is blocked based on the parallax information between the photographing lens 101 and the projection lens 103 obtained from the output of the image sensor (step 22). This is different from the first embodiment. Since steps (S21, S23 to S30) other than step 22 are the same as steps S21 and S23 to S30 of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  In general, the height of the captured image is Y, the distance from the center position of the shooting range to the center position of the projection range in the shooting range is y, the distance between the shooting lens and the projection lens is d, and the shooting field angle is 2θ. When the distance to the screen (not shown), which is the projection plane, is 1, and the optical axis of the photographing lens and the optical axis of the projection lens are parallel, the relationship of Equation 1 is established.

  Next, the reason why it can be determined whether or not the front of the projection lens 103 is blocked based on the parallax information will be described with reference to FIGS.

Since θ and d are known values, when the distances l to the screen positions A, B, and C are set to l _A, l _{B, and} l _C , the deviation amount of the center of the projection range R2 with respect to the center of the imaging range R1 y _A, y _{B, and} y _C can be known by the following formulas 2 to 4.

From the above equations 2 to 4, it can be seen that the distances l _A, l _{B, and} l _C to the screen position can be obtained if the shift amounts y _A, y _{B, and} y _C are known. According to the above formulas 2 to 4, the displacements y _A, y _B, y _C are inversely proportional to the distances l _A, l _B, l _C from the camera 1 to the screen position, and the distance l from the camera 1 to the screen is It can be seen that the shift amount y increases as the length becomes shorter (see FIG. 5B).

A case where the front surface of the projection lens 103 is blocked is defined as a case where the distance l to the screen position is a predetermined value (for example, the position l _D ) or less. When the amount of deviation y between the photographing range R1 and the projection range R2 at this time is y _S (y _S > y _A ), the amount of deviation y is greater than y _S when the front of the projection lens 103 is blocked. It can be seen that In other words, it can be determined that the front of the projector unit 20 is blocked from the deviation (parallax) between the shooting range R1 and the projection range R2.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the camera 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, S31 to S31 show each step of the sequence when the power source 40 at the time of the projector unit 20 light source point or the like is turned off, and the description of the parts common to the first embodiment is omitted.

  This embodiment is based on a detection result (distance information to the in-focus position) detected by an AF sensor (autofocus means) (not shown) that detects the distance between the projection lens 103 and a subject (not shown). Thus, it is different from the first embodiment in that it is determined whether or not the front surface of the projection lens 103 is blocked.

  As shown in FIG. 4, first, the light source 21 of the projector unit 20 is turned on (S31).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the AF function of the camera 1 can be used (S32). When the AF function of the camera 1 cannot be used (NO), the process proceeds to step 34.

  When the AF function of the camera 1 can be used (YES), it is determined whether or not the AF focus range is equal to or less than a specified value (S33).

  When the AF focus range is not less than or equal to the specified value (NO), it is determined that the front of the projection lens 103 is not blocked during projection by the projector unit 20, and waits for a predetermined time (60 seconds in this embodiment) (S35). ). After a predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to step S2, and it is determined again whether or not the AF focus range is equal to or less than a specified value.

  When the AF focus range is equal to or less than the specified value (YES), it is determined that the front surface of the projection lens 103 is blocked during projection by the projector unit 20, and the process waits for 1 second (S34).

  Subsequent steps 36 to 41 perform the same processing as steps 5 to 10 of the first embodiment.

  Note that the processing of steps 32, 33, 34, 36, and 37 may be performed before or after step 39.

  According to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Note that it is determined that the front of the projection lens 103 is blocked by combining information according to the brightness or contrast of the subject image, parallax information between the photographing lens 101 and the projection lens 103, and the detection result of the AF sensor. It may be.

  1: camera, 21: light source, 101: photographing lens 101, 103: projection lens, 20: projector unit (projector), 40: battery (power source), 30: control circuit.

Claims (11)

Imaging means for acquiring a subject image via a taking lens;
A projector having a projection lens and a light source for projection;
Determining means for determining whether or not the front of the projection lens is closed during projection by the projector;
A light-off control unit that turns off the light source when the determination unit determines that the front of the projection lens is blocked ;
It said determining means, characteristics and to Luke camera to determine the front of the projection lens based on an output of the imaging means is blocked. Imaging means for acquiring a subject image via a taking lens;
A projector having a projection lens and a light source for projection;
Determining means for determining whether or not the front of the projection lens is closed during projection by the projector;
A light-off control unit that turns off the light source when the determination unit determines that the front of the projection lens is blocked ;
It said determining means, characteristics and to Luke camera to determine whether the front of the projection lens is blocked on the basis of the detection result of the auto-focus means for detecting the distance between the object and the imaging lens . Imaging means for acquiring a subject image via a taking lens;
A projector having a projection lens and a light source for projection;
Determining means for determining whether or not the front of the projection lens is closed during projection by the projector;
A light-off control unit that turns off the light source when the determination unit determines that the front of the projection lens is blocked ;
The off control means, wherein after the light source is turned off, features and to Luke camera to stop the supply of power from a power source of the power source and the camera main body of the projector. Claim 1, wherein the camera output of the imaging means is characterized in that information corresponding to the brightness or contrast of the subject image. Claim 1, wherein the camera, characterized in that the output of the imaging means is a disparity information between the projection lens and the imaging lens. 6. The camera according to claim 1 , wherein an optical axis of the photographing lens and an optical axis of the projection lens are substantially parallel.   The camera according to claim 1, further comprising warning means for outputting at least one of sound and light.   8. The camera according to claim 7, wherein the turn-off control means drives the warning means before the light source is turned off, when the light source is turned off, or after the light source is turned off. The off control means, after off the light source, according to claim 1, characterized in that to stop the supply from the source power supply and the camera main body of the projector, 2,4,5,6,7,8 The camera according to any one of the above.   9. The camera according to claim 7, wherein the extinguishing control unit stops power supply from the power source of the projector and the power source of the camera body after driving the warning unit. 11. The camera according to claim 10 , wherein the turn-off control means drives the warning means when the supply of power from the power source is stopped.

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