JP5317840B2 - Imaging apparatus and imaging system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that performs phase difference detection type focus detection and an imaging system that includes the imaging apparatus and a plurality of strobe devices.

  An AF camera that performs auto focus adjustment (autofocus, hereinafter referred to as AF) using a phase difference detection method cannot focus on a solid subject. Therefore, it is easy to perform AF operation by emitting AF auxiliary light consisting of a striped pattern. There are things to do.

  In general, in the phase difference detection type AF, the sensor of the secondary imaging plane is a line sensor, and therefore, the focal position is detected by forming an image having a characteristic of light and dark on the line sensor. When a uniform image without light and dark features is formed on the line sensor, a stripe-shaped AF auxiliary light is emitted in order to detect the focal position. The light is emitted so as to form an image vertically.

  In a conventional camera, in order to avoid a situation in which AF functions only for a vertical line pattern that is a vertical line structure pattern of a subject or AF functions only for a horizontal line pattern that is a horizontal line structure pattern of a subject, Such a method has been proposed. In other words, a line sensor is arranged in the horizontal direction with respect to the screen, and AF distance measuring points effective for vertical line detection (hereinafter referred to as horizontal AF distance measuring points) and a line sensor in the vertical direction with respect to the screen are effective for detecting horizontal lines. AF distance measuring points (hereinafter referred to as longitudinal AF distance measuring points) are provided. Accordingly, there has been proposed a camera capable of AF for both a vertical line pattern and a horizontal line pattern of a subject.

  In these cameras, when the AF auxiliary light is emitted while using the horizontal eye AF distance measuring point, AF cannot be performed unless the auxiliary light having the vertical stripe pattern is projected. Therefore, it is necessary to select an auxiliary light projecting device having the following pattern. Alternatively, when the AF auxiliary light is emitted while using the vertical eye AF distance measuring point, AF cannot be performed unless auxiliary light having a horizontal stripe pattern is projected. It is necessary to select the auxiliary light projecting device to have and project the light.

  In addition, when there is no auxiliary light projector suitable for the selected distance measuring point in use, it is necessary to perform an operation such as not performing auxiliary light projection. The technology of these contents is also described in the following patent documents. Yes.

JP-A-7-191260 JP 11-52225 A

  However, when the auxiliary light projector is used separately from the camera, the direction of the stripe pattern of the auxiliary light of the auxiliary light projector is different depending on whether the camera is shot in the vertical position or the horizontal position. The relative position of the camera and the line sensor of the camera changes relatively. As a result, the stripe pattern of the auxiliary light does not form an image perpendicular to the line sensor as it is, and the AF function does not operate. That is, the relationship between the vertical / horizontal stripe pattern of the auxiliary light projected from the selected auxiliary light projecting device and the vertical / horizontal AF distance measuring point of the camera becomes relatively incompatible, and the auxiliary light projection is performed. There was a problem that AF at that time could not be performed.

  In view of the above-described conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to enable good AF during auxiliary light projection regardless of the posture state of the imaging device or the auxiliary light projection device.

In order to achieve the above object, the imaging apparatus of the present invention projects an auxiliary light by an auxiliary light projector selected from among a plurality of auxiliary light projectors installed at distant positions, thereby causing a phase difference. An imaging device that performs detection-type focus detection, an acquisition unit that acquires information about an auxiliary light pattern from the plurality of auxiliary light projectors, and a first that performs phase difference detection in a first direction on an imaging screen. Focus detection means having at least one detection unit of a detection unit and a second detection unit that detects a phase difference in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and an attitude for detecting the attitude state of the imaging device detection means, based on the detected posture state by the posture detection means, determination means for determining the auxiliary light pattern corresponding to the detector used in the focus detection, the plurality in accordance with a determination result of said determining means Auxiliary light projector Characterized in that it has a selection means for selecting the auxiliary light projecting device for emitting auxiliary light, and an instruction unit that instructs the light emission of the auxiliary light auxiliary light projecting device selected by said selection means from among .

In addition, an imaging system according to the present invention includes an imaging apparatus that performs phase difference detection type focus detection by projecting auxiliary light, and a plurality of auxiliary light projecting apparatuses installed apart from the imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires information about an auxiliary light pattern from the plurality of auxiliary light projecting apparatuses, a first detection unit that detects a phase difference in a first direction on the imaging screen, and the Focus detection means including at least one detection unit of a second detection unit that detects a phase difference in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and first posture detection that detects the posture state of the imaging device Based on the posture state detected by the posture detection unit, a determination unit that determines an auxiliary light pattern corresponding to the detection unit used in the focus detection, and the plurality of units according to the determination result of the determination unit Auxiliary light projector Selection means for selecting the auxiliary light projecting device for emitting auxiliary light from within, and characterized in that it have a, an instruction unit for emitting light indication of auxiliary light to the selected auxiliary light projecting device by the selection means To do.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to satisfactorily perform AF during auxiliary light projection regardless of the posture state of the imaging device or the auxiliary light projection device.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the imaging system concerning embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the imaging system concerning embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the imaging system concerning embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the camera 1 and strobe device 2 in FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a camera 1 and a strobe device 2. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the slave strobe apparatus in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the slave strobe apparatus in FIG. It is a circuit diagram of a slave strobe device. It is a figure which shows the position of the ranging point with respect to a screen. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the slave strobe apparatus concerning embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the slave strobe apparatus concerning embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the camera in the case of a normal imaging position. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the camera in the case of a vertical position state.

[Embodiment]
<Configuration of imaging system>
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an imaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a case where a camera is taken in a horizontal position, and FIG. This shows a case where the camera is held in a vertical position. FIG. 1C shows a case where the camera is held in a horizontal position for shooting, but the auxiliary light projector is not in a normal shooting position.

  This imaging system includes an AF single-lens reflex camera 1 which is an example of an imaging device, a strobe device 2 attached to the camera 1, and a strobe device installed away from the camera 1 (hereinafter referred to as a slave strobe device). 3) and 4). The installation position state of the camera 1 is a lateral position state that is a normal photographing position.

  The slave strobe device 3 functions as a slave strobe device and functions as an auxiliary light projector that projects auxiliary light having a vertical stripe pattern (hereinafter referred to as a vertical stripe pattern) 5. The slave strobe device 3 is an example of a first auxiliary light projector.

  The slave strobe device 4 has a function as a slave strobe device and also functions as an auxiliary light projector that projects auxiliary light having a horizontal stripe pattern (hereinafter referred to as a horizontal stripe pattern) 6. The slave strobe device 4 is an example of a second auxiliary light projector.

  The AF of the camera 1 employs a phase difference detection method, and line sensors are arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction with respect to the screen, respectively. A horizontal eye AF distance measurement point is arranged in the horizontal line sensor, and a vertical eye AF distance measurement point is arranged in the vertical line sensor. These AF ranging points will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In shooting, the AF operation is first performed to focus on the subject 7 and then the shooting is performed. However, the camera 1 uses the wireless communication to connect the slave strobe device 3 to the vertical stripe pattern before performing the AF operation. We recognize that we can project auxiliary light with Similarly, it is recognized that the slave strobe device 4 can project auxiliary light having a horizontal stripe pattern before performing the AF operation.

  When performing AF for focusing using the horizontal-eye AF distance measuring point, it is necessary to project auxiliary light having a vertical stripe pattern. Therefore, AF is performed by emitting auxiliary light from the slave strobe device 3. Is possible. In addition, when performing AF using a vertical-eye AF distance measuring point, it is necessary to project auxiliary light having a horizontal stripe pattern. Therefore, AF can be performed by emitting auxiliary light from the slave strobe device 4. become.

  However, if the ambient light is sufficient and the subject is not plain and has a clear contrast, and AF can be performed without emitting auxiliary light, the auxiliary light can be emitted. Is not enough.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1 (b), the configuration is the same as the example shown in FIG. 1 (a) except that the camera 1 shows a state in which vertical position shooting is performed. In other words, the camera 1 is installed in a vertical position rotated 90 degrees from a horizontal position that is a normal photographing position.

  When the camera is held in the vertical position, the AF distance measuring points of the horizontal eye and the vertical eye are held in the vertical position, so that the horizontal eye → the vertical eye and the vertical eye → the horizontal eye are switched. Therefore, when shooting with the camera held in the vertical position, the relationship between the vertical / horizontal stripe pattern of the auxiliary light emitted from the selected slave strobe device and the vertical / horizontal AF distance measuring point of the camera is relatively AF cannot be performed during auxiliary light projection. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the vertical stripes and the horizontal stripes of the pattern of the auxiliary light to be emitted according to the position state of the camera 1.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1B, in the case where AF is performed using a horizontal eye AF distance measuring point, it is necessary to project auxiliary light having a horizontal stripe pattern. Therefore, AF for focusing can be performed by emitting auxiliary light from the slave strobe device 4. In addition, when performing AF using a vertical-eye AF distance measuring point, it is necessary to project auxiliary light having a vertical stripe pattern. Therefore, AF can be performed by emitting auxiliary light from the slave strobe device 3. Become.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1C, the slave strobe device 3 is different from the vertical position state (an example of the first posture state) in the normal installation state as shown in FIG. The configuration is the same as the example shown in FIG. 1A except that it is installed in an example posture state. The slave strobe device 3 is attached to a vertical column by a bracket 614 instead of the installation table 604.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1C, the slave strobe device 3 projects auxiliary light of a vertical stripe pattern, but the auxiliary light of the vertical stripe pattern projected from the slave strobe device 3 has a horizontal stripe pattern for the subject 7. Act as auxiliary light 5A.

  Therefore, when performing AF using a vertical eye AF distance measuring point, it is necessary to project auxiliary light having a horizontal stripe pattern, and thus AF can be performed. However, AF is performed using a horizontal eye AF distance measuring point. In this case, it is difficult to perform AF because it is necessary to project auxiliary light having a vertical stripe pattern.

<Camera configuration>
Next, the configuration of the camera 1 and the flash device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the camera 1 and the strobe device 2 in FIG.

  The camera 1 includes a main mirror 102, a focus plate 103, a finder optical path changing pentaprism 104, an eyepiece lens 105, an imaging lens 106, and a photometric sensor 107.

  The main mirror 102 is obliquely installed in the photographing optical path in the finder observation state, and retracts out of the photographing optical path in the photographing state. Further, the main mirror 102 is a half mirror, and when it is obliquely arranged in the photographing optical path, it transmits about half of the light beam from the subject to a focus detection optical system described later. The focus plate 103 is a member that is disposed on the planned imaging plane of the lens unit 200 and constitutes a part of the finder optical system. The photographer can observe the imaging screen by observing the focus plate 103 from the window behind the eyepiece 105. The imaging lens 106 conjugates the focus plate 103 and the photometric sensor 107 via a reflected light path in the pentaprism 104. The photometric sensor 107 is a sensor for measuring subject luminance in the imaging screen.

  The camera 1 further includes an image sensor 109, a sub mirror 125, a focus detection unit 126, and a lens mount contact group 210.

  As the image sensor 109, a CCD, a CMOS, or the like is used. Similar to the main mirror 102, the sub mirror 125 is obliquely installed in the photographing optical path in the viewfinder observation state and retracts out of the photographing optical path in the photographing state. The sub-mirror 125 bends the light beam that has passed through the oblique main mirror 102 and guides it toward a focus detection unit 126 described later. The focus detection unit 126 (an example of a focus adjustment device) detects the focus adjustment state of the lens unit 200 by a phase difference detection method, and the detection result is a camera microcomputer 400 that controls the focus adjustment mechanism of the lens unit 200 (see FIG. 4). ). The lens mount contact group 210 serves as a communication interface between the camera 1 and the lens unit 200.

  Next, the configuration of the lens unit 200 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lens unit 200 includes lenses 202 to 204 and a diaphragm 205. The first lens group 202 is a focus lens that adjusts the focus position of the imaging screen by moving back and forth on the optical axis. The second group lens 203 is a zoom lens that changes the focal length of the lens unit 200 by moving back and forth on the optical axis and zooms in the shooting screen. The third group lens 204 is a fixed lens.

  The lens unit 200 further includes a focus drive motor 206 and an aperture drive motor 207. The focus drive motor 206 moves the first group lens 202, which is a focus lens, in the optical axis direction. That is, the focus drive motor 206 functions as a drive unit of a focus adjustment device for focusing the subject to be imaged by moving the first lens group 202 back and forth. The diaphragm drive motor 207 drives the diaphragm 205 so as to change the aperture diameter of the diaphragm 205. The focus drive motor 206 and the aperture drive motor 207 are driven by a lens microcomputer (not shown) provided in the lens unit 200 in response to an instruction from the camera microcomputer 400.

  Next, the configuration of the strobe device 2 will be described.

  The strobe device 2 can be attached to and detached from the camera 1, has a xenon tube 301, a Fresnel lens 302, and a reflector 303, and performs light emission control of the xenon tube 301 in accordance with a signal from the camera 1. The xenon tube 301 converts current energy into emission energy. The Fresnel lens 302 and the reflection plate 303 each have a role of efficiently condensing light emission energy toward the subject.

  The strobe device 2 includes a strobe contact group 309 that serves as a communication interface between the camera 1 and the strobe device 2.

<Circuit configuration of camera and strobe device>
Next, circuit configurations of the camera 1 and the flash device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the camera 1 and the strobe device 2.

  The camera 1 includes a camera microcomputer 400, a wireless communication unit 401, a motor control circuit 403, and a shutter control circuit 404.

  The camera microcomputer 400 transmits signals to the strobe microcomputer 500 provided in the strobe device 2 via the strobe contact group 309. The wireless communication unit 401 is an RF generation circuit for bidirectionally communicating with a slave strobe device described later, and is connected to the antenna 402.

  The contents communicated from the camera 1 to the slave strobe device are the vertical / horizontal position information of the camera 1 and a strobe light emission signal. The contents of the information regarding the auxiliary light pattern communicated from the slave strobe device to the camera 1 are as follows. That is, attitude state information indicating whether the slave strobe device is in the vertical position or the horizontal position, and AF auxiliary light pattern emitted from the slave strobe device is auxiliary light having a vertical stripe pattern or having a horizontal stripe pattern This is light projection pattern information indicating whether the light is auxiliary light.

  The shutter control circuit 404 performs energization control of the shutter front curtain drive magnet MG-1 and the shutter rear curtain drive magnet MG-2 in accordance with a signal from the camera microcomputer 100. Then, the front curtain and the rear curtain are run to perform the exposure operation.

  The motor control circuit 403 controls the motor according to a signal from the camera microcomputer 400, thereby performing up / down of the main mirror 102, shutter charging, and the like.

  The camera 1 further includes a liquid crystal display unit 405 and a posture detection device 406 (first posture detection means) of the camera 1. The liquid crystal display unit 405 performs display according to a signal from the camera microcomputer 400. The posture detection device 406 applies a low level signal to the input port HIN of the camera microcomputer 400 when the camera is held in the horizontal position, which is the normal shooting position. When the camera 1 is held in the vertical position, a low level signal is applied to the input port VIN of the camera microcomputer 400. The attitude detection device 406 can be made of a flowable metal such as mercury in a glass tube that is an electrical insulator, or can be made of a metal ball at each position. Thus, it is possible to configure such that the position changes. In the example of FIG. 3, an example in which the ball 407 is configured is shown. The camera 1 can detect the posture by changing to which of the input port HIN and the input port VIN a low level signal is applied, and can change the processing.

  Next, the circuit configuration of the strobe device 2 will be described.

  The strobe device 2 includes a power source battery 501, a DC / DC converter 502, a main capacitor 503, resistors 504 and 505, a trigger generation circuit 506, a xenon tube 507, and a light emission control circuit 508 such as an IGBT.

  The DC / DC converter 502 boosts the battery voltage to several hundred volts, and the main capacitor 503 stores light emission energy. Resistors 504 and 505 divide the voltage of the main capacitor 503 into a predetermined ratio.

  The strobe device 2 further includes a comparator 509 for controlling the amount of light emitted when the strobe device 2 emits light, an integral photometry circuit 510, and a light receiving element 511. The integral photometry circuit 510 is a circuit for logarithmically compressing the photocurrent flowing through the light receiving element 511 and compressing and integrating the light emission amount of the xenon tube 507. The light receiving element 511 receives the light emitted from the xenon tube 507. It is an element.

  The strobe device 2 also includes a strobe microcomputer 500 that controls the operation of the strobe device 2. Each terminal of the strobe microcomputer 500 will be described. The CNT terminal controls charging of the DC / DC converter 502. The control output terminal AD is an A / D conversion input terminal for reading a charging voltage, and the CLK terminal is a synchronous clock input terminal for serial communication with the camera 1.

  The DO terminal is a serial output terminal for transferring serial data from the strobe device 2 to the camera 1 in synchronization with the synchronization clock. The DI terminal is a serial data input terminal for receiving serial data from the camera 1 to the strobe device 2 in synchronization with the synchronization clock. The X terminal is a terminal to which a strobe light emission command from the camera 1 is input. The DA terminal is a D / A output terminal for outputting the comparator voltage of the comparator 509. The TRIG terminal is a terminal for outputting a light emission trigger signal.

<Configuration of slave strobe device>
4A is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the slave strobe device 3 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the slave strobe device 4 in FIG.

  The slave strobe device 3 shown in FIG. 4A is detachable from the strobe mount 604, has a xenon tube 601, a Fresnel lens 602, and a reflector 603, and in accordance with a radio signal from the camera 1, the xenon tube The light emission control of 601 is performed. The slave strobe device 3 further includes an AF auxiliary light emitting unit 605. The AF auxiliary light emitting unit 605 projects auxiliary light 606 having a vertical stripe pattern.

  The slave strobe device 4 shown in FIG. 4B has a xenon tube 701, a Fresnel lens 702, a reflecting plate 703, and a strobe mounting base 704 in the same manner as the slave strobe device 3, and follows the wireless signal from the camera 1. The emission control of the xenon tube 701 is performed. The slave strobe device 4 further includes an AF auxiliary light emitting unit 705. The AF auxiliary light emitting unit 705 projects auxiliary light 706 having a horizontal stripe pattern.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration common to the slave strobe devices 3 and 4. Elements common to the strobe device 2 of FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In addition to the configuration of the flash device 2 shown in FIG. 3, the slave flash devices 3 and 4 include a light emitting diode 813 as a light source of AF auxiliary light, a drive device 812 for driving the light emitting diode 813, and a filter 814. And. In other words, the light emitting diode 813 emits light by receiving a constant current drive necessary for light emission from the driving device 812. Then, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 813 is irradiated with a predetermined light projection pattern through the filter 814.

  Since the slave strobe device 3 projects auxiliary light having a vertical stripe pattern, the vertical stripe pattern is printed and projected on the filter 814. Since the slave strobe device 4 projects auxiliary light having a horizontal stripe pattern, the horizontal stripe pattern is printed on the filter 814 and projected.

  Further, the strobe microcomputer 800 of the slave strobe devices 3 and 4 is connected to a posture detecting device 817 (second posture detecting means) similar to that described with reference to 406 in FIG. When the slave strobe devices 3 and 4 are held vertically, which is the normal photographing position, a low level signal is applied to the input port VIN of the strobe microcomputer 800. On the other hand, when the slave strobe devices 3 and 4 are held in the horizontal position, a low level signal is applied to the input port HIN of the strobe microcomputer 800.

  The slave strobe devices 3 and 4 can detect the posture by changing to which of the input port HIN and the input port VIN a low level signal is applied, and change the processing.

  The slave strobe devices 3 and 4 include a wireless communication unit 815 for performing wireless communication with the camera 1. An antenna 816 is connected to the wireless communication unit 815.

<Focusing point location>
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the position of the distance measuring point with respect to the imaging screen. As shown in FIG. 6, there are five AF ranging points, one at the center of the screen, one on each side of the center, and one on each of the top and bottom of the center. It has an eye AF distance measuring point and a horizontal eye AF distance measuring point. The horizontal eye AF distance measuring point is a first focus detection area that is composed of line sensors in the horizontal direction (first direction) and performs pattern detection in the vertical direction. The vertical-eye AF ranging point is a second focus detection area that is composed of line sensors in the vertical direction (second direction orthogonal to the first direction) and detects the pattern in the horizontal direction.

  Specifically, in the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a vertical eye AF distance measurement point among the central AF distance measurement points, 32 denotes a horizontal eye AF distance measurement point among the center AF distance measurement points, and 33 denotes a right AF distance measurement point. The vertical eye AF distance measurement point, 34 is the horizontal AF distance measurement point of the right AF distance measurement point, and 35 is the vertical eye AF distance measurement point of the left AF distance measurement point. Also, in the figure, 36 is a horizontal AF range point among the left AF range points, 37 is a vertical AF range point among the upper AF range points, and 38 is a horizontal AF range among the upper AF range points. A distance measuring point, 39 is a vertical AF distance measuring point among the lower AF distance measuring points, and 40 is a horizontal AF distance measuring point among the lower AF distance measuring points.

  Thus, as the AF distance measuring points, there are 5 vertical eye AF distance measuring points (31, 33, 35, 37, 39), and 5 horizontal eye AF distance measuring points (32, 34, 36, 38, 38). 40) Yes.

  When shooting with the camera 1 held in the horizontal position (normal shooting position), auxiliary light with a horizontal stripe pattern is projected when AF is performed using the vertical eye ranging point as described in FIG. To do. When AF is performed using the lateral eye ranging point, auxiliary light having a vertical stripe pattern is projected. When shooting with the camera held in the vertical position, auxiliary light having a vertical stripe pattern is projected when AF is performed using the vertical eye ranging point as described with reference to FIG. When AF is performed using the lateral eye ranging point, auxiliary light having a horizontal stripe pattern is projected.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the vertical eye AF distance measurement point and the horizontal eye AF distance measurement point do not have to be provided at the same position in the imaging screen, and the vertical eye AF distance measurement point and the horizontal eye AF are near the center of the imaging screen. The distance measurement points may be provided at the same position, and only one of the vertical eye AF distance measurement point and the horizontal eye AF distance measurement point may be provided in the peripheral portion.

<Operation of the shooting system>
Next, operations in the photographing system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

(A) Operation of Slave Strobe Device First, the operation of the slave strobe device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7A is a flowchart showing the operation of the slave strobe device according to the first embodiment. The posture state information indicating whether the slave strobe device is in the vertical position or the horizontal position is transmitted to the camera 1. The operation flow in the case is shown.

  In step S <b> 500, the strobe microcomputer 800 uses the posture detection device 817 to detect the posture of the slave strobe device 3 itself in the vertical position (normal photographing position) or the horizontal position. Next, in step S501, the flash microcomputer 800 transmits the posture state information detected in step S500 to the camera 1 via the wireless communication unit 815.

  FIG. 7B shows an operation flow when transmitting light projection pattern information indicating a pattern of AF auxiliary light by the stroboscopic microcomputer 800.

  First, in step S300, the flash microcomputer 800 determines whether the AF auxiliary light pattern projected by the flash microcomputer 800 is a vertical stripe pattern or a horizontal stripe pattern. If it is a vertical stripe pattern, the process proceeds to step S301, and if it is a horizontal stripe pattern, the process proceeds to step S302.

  In step S <b> 301, projection pattern information indicating that the slave strobe device itself can project auxiliary light having a vertical stripe pattern is transmitted to the camera 1 via the wireless communication unit 815. In step S <b> 302, projection pattern information indicating that the slave strobe device itself can project the auxiliary light having the horizontal stripe pattern is transmitted to the camera 1 via the wireless communication unit 815.

(B) Operation of Camera Next, the operation of the camera 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera 1 according to the first embodiment, and shows an operation flow after the posture detection device 406 detects that the camera 1 is in the normal photographing position.

  First, in step S100, the camera microcomputer 100 communicates with the slave strobe devices 3 and 4 via the wireless communication unit 401, and acquires information on the AF auxiliary light pattern from these slave strobe devices. That is, attitude state information indicating whether the slave strobe devices 3 and 4 are in the vertical position or the horizontal position, and whether the AF auxiliary light pattern of the slave strobe devices 3 and 4 is auxiliary light having a vertical stripe pattern or a horizontal stripe pattern The light projection pattern information indicating whether the auxiliary light has a light is acquired.

  In the next step S101, the camera microcomputer 100 determines whether to perform AF. At this time, if the photographer presses a button for starting the AF operation, AF is performed. If AF is to be performed, the process proceeds to step S102. If AF is not to be performed, the process is terminated.

  In step S <b> 102, the camera microcomputer 100 determines whether or not AF auxiliary light is necessary based on a photometric result of the photometric sensor 107 or a photographer's instruction. When determining based on the photometric result of the photometric sensor 107, it is determined that AF auxiliary light is necessary when the subject brightness in the imaging screen is dark. If necessary, the process proceeds to step S103, and if not necessary, the process ends.

  In step S103, the camera microcomputer 100 determines whether the AF distance measurement point used in the current AF is a horizontal eye AF distance measurement point or a vertical eye AF distance measurement point. If it is a horizontal eye AF distance measurement point, the process proceeds to step S104. If it is a vertical eye AF distance measurement point, the process proceeds to step S105.

  In step S104, an effective auxiliary light pattern for the current AF distance measuring point is determined based on the information regarding the auxiliary light pattern acquired in step 100. Then, an instruction to emit auxiliary light is issued via the wireless communication unit 401 to a slave strobe device that can project auxiliary light having a vertical stripe pattern determined to be an effective auxiliary light pattern. The slave strobe device that has received the auxiliary light emission signal projects the auxiliary light of the vertical stripe pattern toward the subject 7. If there are multiple slave strobe devices that can project auxiliary light with a vertical stripe pattern, an auxiliary light emission signal may be output to all slave strobe devices, or only one auxiliary light emission signal may be output. Also good.

  In step S105, an effective auxiliary light pattern for the current AF distance measuring point is determined based on the information regarding the auxiliary light pattern acquired in step 100. Then, an instruction to emit auxiliary light is issued via the wireless communication unit 401 to a slave strobe device that can project auxiliary light having a horizontal stripe pattern determined as an effective auxiliary light pattern. Upon receiving this light emission instruction, the slave strobe device projects the auxiliary light of the horizontal stripe pattern toward the subject 7.

  As shown in FIG. 1C, when there are a plurality of slave strobe devices that can project the auxiliary light of the horizontal stripe pattern, it is possible to instruct all the slave strobe devices to emit light, or to emit only one light. Instructions may be given.

  Further, depending on the posture of the slave strobe device, as shown in FIG. 1C, a plurality of slave strobe devices may all have the same auxiliary light pattern. In such a case, prior to S104 and S105, the camera microcomputer 100 determines whether there is a slave strobe device capable of projecting auxiliary light with a desired auxiliary light pattern based on the information about the auxiliary light pattern acquired in step 100. It may be determined whether or not. If there is no slave strobe device capable of projecting light, for example, a warning may be given by displaying on the liquid crystal display unit 405 that there is no slave strobe device capable of projecting light.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera 1 according to the first embodiment, and shows an operation flow after the posture detection device 406 detects that the camera 1 is in the vertical position state.

  The camera microcomputer 100 first performs the same processing as the processing from step S100 to step S103 described in FIG. 8 in the processing from step S200 to step S203.

  In step S203, the camera microcomputer 100 determines whether the AF distance measurement point used in the current AF is a horizontal eye AF distance measurement point or a vertical eye AF distance measurement point. If it is a horizontal eye AF distance measurement point, the process proceeds to step S204. If it is a vertical eye AF distance measurement point, the process proceeds to step S205.

  In step S204, an effective auxiliary light pattern for the current AF distance measuring point is determined based on the information related to the auxiliary light pattern acquired in step 200. Then, an instruction to emit auxiliary light is issued via the wireless communication unit 401 to a slave strobe device that can project auxiliary light having a horizontal stripe pattern determined to be an effective auxiliary light pattern. Upon receiving this light emission instruction, the slave strobe device projects the auxiliary light of the horizontal stripe pattern toward the subject 7.

  In step S205, based on the information regarding the auxiliary light pattern acquired in step 200, an auxiliary light pattern effective for the current AF distance measuring point is determined. Then, an instruction to emit auxiliary light is issued via the wireless communication unit 401 to a slave strobe device that can project auxiliary light having a vertical stripe pattern determined to be an effective auxiliary light pattern. Upon receiving this light emission instruction, the slave strobe device projects the auxiliary light of the vertical stripe pattern toward the subject 7.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the auxiliary light patterns corresponding to the vertical eye AF distance measurement points and the horizontal eye AF distance measurement points are changed according to the posture of the camera 1 detected by the posture detection device 406. Thus, AF auxiliary light is projected.

  This enables automatic relationship between the vertical / horizontal stripe pattern of the auxiliary light projected from the slave flash unit and the vertical / horizontal AF distance measurement points of the camera, even when shooting with the camera held vertically. Therefore, AF during auxiliary light projection can be performed satisfactorily. In other words, it is possible to automatically select the auxiliary light on the slave strobe device side that is optimal for the AF distance measurement point used by the camera and set the camera to the horizontal / vertical position.

  In this embodiment, the camera microcomputer 400 determines the direction of the AF auxiliary light pattern projected from the slave strobe device based on the information about the auxiliary light pattern acquired from the slave strobe device. You may judge by. When the strobe microcomputer 500 makes the determination, each slave strobe device may transmit the determination result to the camera 1 via the wireless communication unit 815 as information on the auxiliary light pattern.

  Also, as in this embodiment, posture detection is not performed for determining the horizontal position / vertical position state on both the camera side and the slave strobe device side, but posture detection is performed with only one of them. Also good. When posture detection is performed only on the camera side, the slave strobe device transmits the light projection pattern information to the camera, and the camera assumes that the slave strobe device is at the normal shooting position and uses the AF auxiliary light based on the light projection pattern information. What is necessary is just to select the slave strobe device to project. On the other hand, when the posture detection is performed only on the slave device side, the camera projects the AF auxiliary light based on the information about the auxiliary light pattern received from the slave strobe device assuming that its posture is the normal shooting position. A strobe device can be selected.

[Other embodiments]
The object of the present invention can also be achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a storage medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. This is the process of reading the code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Moreover, the following can be used as a storage medium for supplying the program code. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM or the like. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, the present invention includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Is also included.

  Furthermore, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the following processing is also included in the present invention. That is, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera 2 Strobe apparatus 3, 4 Slave strobe apparatus 126 Focus detection unit 202 First group lens 206 Focus drive motor 400 Camera microcomputer 401,815 Wireless communication units 406,817 Attitude detection apparatus 500 Strobe microcomputer

Claims (6)

An imaging device that performs focus detection of a phase difference detection method by projecting auxiliary light by an auxiliary light projector selected from among a plurality of auxiliary light projectors installed at distant positions,
Obtaining means for obtaining information on an auxiliary light pattern from the plurality of auxiliary light projectors;
At least one of a first detection unit that detects a phase difference in the first direction on the imaging screen and a second detection unit that detects a phase difference in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is provided. Focus detection means,
Attitude detection means for detecting the attitude state of the imaging device;
A determination unit that determines an auxiliary light pattern corresponding to the detection unit used in the focus detection based on the posture state detected by the posture detection unit;
Selecting means for selecting an auxiliary light projector that emits auxiliary light from the plurality of auxiliary light projectors according to the determination result of the determination means;
An imaging apparatus comprising: an instruction unit that instructs the auxiliary light projector selected by the selection unit to emit auxiliary light. The acquisition means, as the information on the auxiliary light pattern, to claim 1, characterized in that to obtain the projection pattern information indicating a projection pattern of the auxiliary light also throw light complement Johikari flood light with less The imaging device described. The acquisition unit, an imaging apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the as the information about the auxiliary light pattern, acquires posture state information indicating the posture state of the auxiliary Johikari flood light. Characterized in that it has a warning means for performing warning if the auxiliary light auxiliary Johikari lighting devices that can projection of auxiliary light pattern is determined by the determining means is not present in said plurality of auxiliary light projecting device The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An imaging system that includes an imaging device that performs phase difference detection type focus detection by projecting auxiliary light, and a plurality of auxiliary light projecting devices installed apart from the imaging device,
The imaging device
Obtaining means for obtaining information on an auxiliary light pattern from the plurality of auxiliary light projectors;
At least one of a first detection unit that detects a phase difference in the first direction on the imaging screen and a second detection unit that detects a phase difference in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is provided. Focus detection means,
First posture detecting means for detecting a posture state of the imaging device;
A determination unit that determines an auxiliary light pattern corresponding to the detection unit used in the focus detection based on the posture state detected by the posture detection unit;
Selecting means for selecting an auxiliary light projector that emits auxiliary light from the plurality of auxiliary light projectors according to the determination result of the determination means;
Imaging system characterized by have a, an instruction unit for emitting light indication of auxiliary light to the selected auxiliary light projecting device by the selection unit. The auxiliary light projector includes a second attitude detection unit that detects the attitude state of the auxiliary light projector, a light emitting unit that projects auxiliary light with a predetermined light projection pattern, and information about the auxiliary light pattern. Transmission means for transmitting to the imaging device ,
The transmission means captures, as information relating to the auxiliary light pattern, attitude state information indicating an attitude state detected by the second attitude detection means and light projection pattern information indicating a light projection pattern of the light emitting means. The imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the imaging system is transmitted to an apparatus.