JP5423204B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus that displays a captured image as a review.

  2. Description of the Related Art An imaging device that automatically displays a review on a liquid crystal display after imaging a subject is known.

  For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a still video camera capable of setting a display time for review display and switching whether to display a review.

Japanese Patent No. 3465501

  However, the above-mentioned still video camera is inconvenient because it is necessary to set the display time of review display and the switching of whether or not to display the review each time. Further, since the display control is not in accordance with the state of the user or the subject, there is a problem that the review display is performed in a scene where the review display is unnecessary.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that performs display control according to the state of a user or a subject.

  In order to solve the above problems, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed through an optical system to generate image data, a display unit, and a memory that temporarily stores the image data. When the image capturing operation by the user and the user is accepted, after the image data generated by the image capturing unit is stored in the storage unit, the stored image data is displayed on the display unit for a predetermined time. Control means for switching to display of the generated image data and shake detection means are provided, and the control means adjusts the predetermined time according to the shake amount detected by the shake detection means.

  Thus, the present invention can provide an imaging device that performs display control according to the state of the user or the subject.

Configuration block diagram of the digital camera 100 Flow chart of control that does not display review by panning detection Flowchart of control for not performing review display when it is determined that the subject has moved Flow chart of control to end review display when panning is detected while review is displayed Flowchart of control to end the review display when it is determined that the subject is moving during the review display

[Embodiment 1]
The digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment controls the review display of the captured image according to the panning determination or the subject motion detection result. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the digital camera 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

[1-1. Constitution〕
A configuration of the digital camera 100 according to Embodiment 1 and a correspondence relationship with the present invention will be described.

[1-1-1. (Configuration of digital camera)
First, the configuration of the digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of the digital camera 100.

  The digital camera 100 captures a subject image with the CCD image sensor 102 through the optical system 101. The image data created by imaging is subjected to various processes in a preprocessing unit (Analog Front End) 103 and an image processing unit 104. Thereafter, the image data is stored in the flash memory 109 or the memory card 108. The image data stored in the flash memory 109 or the memory card 108 is reproduced and displayed on the liquid crystal display 105 in response to an operation of the operation unit 110 by the user.

  The power supply 111 supplies power to each unit constituting the digital camera 100. The power supply 111 can switch on / off of the power supply state of the digital camera 100 in response to a user operation.

  The main controller 106 controls the overall operation of the digital camera 100. When power is supplied, the main controller 106 first executes a CPU startup process in preparation for performing various operations such as shooting. When the CPU activation process is completed, the main controller 106 executes a program for controlling each unit of the digital camera 100. Thereby, the main controller 106 supplies necessary power to the entire system constituting the digital camera 100. Further, the main controller 106 prepares the optical system 101, the CCD image sensor 102, the image processing unit 104, and the like in a state where a photographing operation can be performed.

  The main controller 106 may be configured with a hard-wired electronic circuit, or may be configured with a microcomputer using a program. Further, the image processing unit 104 and the like may be configured with one semiconductor chip.

  The CCD image sensor 102 converts the light collected through the optical system 101 into an electrical signal. A large number of photodiodes are two-dimensionally arranged on the light receiving surface of the CCD image sensor 101. The light from the subject passes through the optical system 101 and then forms an image on the light receiving surface on the CCD image sensor 102. And the light from a to-be-photographed object is stored as an electric charge by the photoelectric effect on the light-receiving surface. The electric charge stored in each light receiving surface is transferred to the amplifier by the vertical CCD and the horizontal CCD, and image data is generated. In the present invention, instead of the CCD image sensor 102, other imaging elements such as a CMOS image sensor and an NMOS image sensor may be used.

  The preprocessing unit 103 performs processes such as correlated double sampling and gain adjustment on the image data generated by the CCD image sensor 102. Also, conversion from analog image data to digital image data is performed. Thereafter, the preprocessing unit 103 outputs the image data of the RGB signal to the image processing unit 104.

  The image processing unit 104 performs various processes on the image data. Examples of the various processes include, but are not limited to, gamma correction, white balance correction, YC conversion process, electronic zoom process, compression process, and expansion process. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which lacks these one part. The image processing unit 104 may be configured with a hard-wired electronic circuit or a microcomputer using a program. Further, it may be constituted by one semiconductor chip together with the main controller 106 and the like.

  The liquid crystal display 105 displays an image based on the display image data processed by the image processing unit 104. In addition to the image, the liquid crystal display 105 can display the setting conditions of the digital camera 100 and the like. The present invention is not limited to the liquid crystal system, the plasma system, and the organic EL system, and can be applied to the present invention as long as it is a display that displays image data.

  As an image displayed on the liquid crystal display 105, there are a through image, a recorded image, and a review image. The through image is an image that continuously displays image data generated one after another by the CCD image sensor 102. The through image has a finder function. The user can determine the composition of the subject and take a picture by looking at the through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 105. The recorded image is an image recorded on the memory card 108. The recorded image is read from the memory card 108 in accordance with the user's operation and reproduced and displayed on the liquid crystal display 105. The review image is an image that is displayed on the liquid crystal display 105 for a certain period of time in order to confirm the finish of the image generated by the user's imaging operation to be a recorded image. The review image is temporarily recorded in a buffer (not shown) by the main controller 106 when an imaging operation by the user is accepted. The digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment may allow the user to determine whether or not to record the image data generated by imaging after displaying the review image on the liquid crystal display 105 in the memory card 108.

  The liquid crystal display 105 displays a through image when energized. The liquid crystal display 105 can be switched to a display of setting conditions or a display of a recorded image in addition to a through image according to a user operation. Further, the liquid crystal display 105 can be set to automatically display a recorded image that has been shot for a certain period of time immediately after shooting. This is hereinafter referred to as a review automatic display function. Further, the length of time for which the review display is made is hereinafter referred to as the review display time.

  A mode in which the digital camera 100 can capture an image is hereinafter referred to as a shooting mode. In the shooting mode, the liquid crystal display 105 normally displays a through image. On the other hand, a mode in which an image recorded on the memory card 108 can be selected and played back is referred to as a playback mode hereinafter.

  The flash memory 109 functions as an internal memory for recording image data and the like. The main controller 106 records the image data processed by the image processing unit 104 in the flash memory 109 or the memory card 108. The present invention is not limited to a flash memory, and may be a device that stores image data in a hard disk or the like, for example.

  The memory card 108 is an external memory provided with a storage unit such as a flash memory. The memory card 108 can store data such as image data processed by the image processing unit 104. In this embodiment, the memory card 108 is shown as an example of the external memory, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a storage medium such as an optical disk may be used as the external memory.

  The operation unit 110 includes a button-like or slide-like one provided on the exterior of the digital camera 100, or a touch panel type operated by touching the liquid crystal display 105. The digital camera 100 receives various operations from the operation unit 110 by the user and executes various operations.

  The gyro sensor 107 is a device that detects the direction and magnitude of the user's hand shake by detecting an angular change accompanying the user's operation of the digital camera 100, that is, an angular velocity. The present invention is not limited to the gyro sensor 107 and can be applied to other angular velocity sensors or angular acceleration sensors that detect the shake of the digital camera 100. The main controller 106 determines that panning is performed when the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor 107 is greater than or equal to a certain value.

  The main controller 106 determines that the subject has moved when there is a certain difference between frames in an arbitrary range of image data with respect to the image data sent from the image processing unit 104 for each frame. The size of the range in which the motion is to be detected is variable and may be arranged at a plurality of locations.

[1-1-2. Correspondence with the present invention]
The CCD image sensor 102 is an example of the imaging means of the present invention. The liquid crystal display 105 is an example of the display means of the present invention. The main controller 106 is an example of the control means of the present invention. The buffer is an example of the storage means of the present invention. The gyro sensor 107 is an example of a shake detection unit of the present invention. The configuration including the image processing unit 104 and the main controller 106 is an example of a shake detection unit of the present invention. The digital camera 100 is an example of an imaging apparatus of the present invention.

[1-2. Operation)
Next, the operation of the digital camera 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. The digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment executes review display control according to a panning detection result during photographing and a subject movement detection result. This will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Review display control according to panning detection result]
When the digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment detects panning, the digital camera 100 controls not to display the review image in order to prioritize the display of the through image. FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of this control.

  In the digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment, during the shooting mode, the liquid crystal display 105 displays a through image based on the image data generated by the CCD image sensor 102. The main controller 106 performs panning determination based on the angle change information from the gyro sensor 107 every time the CCD image sensor 102 generates image data of a new frame (S200). The main controller 106 performs a series of photographing operations such as exposure and development (S201) when an instruction to start a photographing operation such as a release is issued in a frame in which panning is detected or in the next frame. The liquid crystal display 105 continues to display the through image without displaying the review image.

  On the other hand, the main controller 106 checks the recorded image after the series of shooting operations (S202) described above when panning is not detected in the frame instructed to start the shooting operation or in the previous frame. The review image is displayed for a set time (S203). The main controller 106 continues the review image display for the set time, then cancels the review display (S204), and displays the through image on the liquid crystal display 105 again.

  The first embodiment may be not only a control that does not display a review image when panning is detected, but also a control that shortens the review time from a set time.

  The digital camera 100 according to Embodiment 1 may add a selection of automatically determining the review time in addition to selecting whether or not to display the review image in setting the review image display method. At this time, the digital camera 100 according to Embodiment 1 may perform the above-described review image display control when it is selected to automatically determine the review time.

[Review display control based on subject movement detection results]
Further, the digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment performs control not to display the review image in order to prioritize the display of the through image when it is determined that the subject that the user is shooting is moving. To do.

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of control for not performing the review display when it is determined that the subject has moved.

  In the digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment, during the shooting mode, the liquid crystal display 105 displays a through image based on the image data generated by the CCD image sensor 102. The main controller 106 determines whether or not the subject is moving each time the CCD image sensor 102 generates image data of a new frame (S300). When the main controller 106 is instructed to start a shooting operation such as a release in a frame in which the subject is determined to be moving or in the next frame, a series of shooting operations such as exposure and development (S301). Then, the through image is continuously displayed on the liquid crystal display 105 without displaying the review image.

  On the other hand, when it is not determined that the subject is moving, the main controller 106 performs review image display for confirming the recorded image for the set time after the above-described series of photographing operations (S302) ( S303). After displaying the review display for the set time, the main controller 106 cancels the review image display (S304) and displays the through image on the liquid crystal display 105 again.

  The first embodiment may be not only a control that does not display a review when it is determined that the subject is moving, but also a control that shortens the review time from the set time.

The digital camera 100 according to Embodiment 1 may add a selection of automatically determining the review time in addition to selecting whether or not to display the review image in setting the review image display method. At this time, the digital camera 100 according to Embodiment 1 may perform the above-described review image display control when it is selected to automatically determine the review time.
[Embodiment 2]
The digital camera 100 according to the second embodiment executes review display control according to a panning detection result during review display and a subject motion detection result. The configuration of the digital camera 100 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. Therefore, description of each structure is abbreviate | omitted. Hereinafter, the operation of the digital camera 100 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Display control according to panning detection results during review display]
When panning is detected while the review image is displayed after the photographing operation is performed, the digital camera 100 performs control to immediately end the review display regardless of the set review time.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of control for terminating the review display when panning is detected during the review display.

  In the digital camera 100 according to the second embodiment, during the shooting mode, the liquid crystal display 105 displays a through image based on the image data generated by the CCD image sensor 102. In the shooting mode, the controller 106 receives a user's release operation and starts a shooting operation, and executes a series of shooting operations such as exposure and development (S400). Thereafter, the liquid crystal display 105 displays a review image (S401). During the review display, the main controller 106 monitors the time from the start of the review image display (S402). The main controller 106 performs panning determination based on the information on the angle change from the gyro sensor 107 at regular intervals until the set time elapses (S403). When the panning is detected, the main controller 106 cancels the review display even if the time set as the review display time has not elapsed (S404), and displays the through image on the liquid crystal display 105 again.

  On the other hand, when the panning is not detected before the time set as the review image display time elapses, the main controller 106 cancels the review display after the time set as the review image display time elapses ( S404). Thereafter, the liquid crystal display 105 displays the through image again.

[Display control according to the motion detection result of the subject during review display]
The digital camera 100 performs control to immediately end the review display regardless of the set review time when it is detected that the subject is moving while the review image is displayed after performing the shooting operation. Do.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of control for ending the review image display when it is determined that the subject is moving while the review image is displayed.

  In the digital camera 100 according to the second embodiment, during the shooting mode, the liquid crystal display 105 displays a through image based on the image data generated by the CCD image sensor 102. During the shooting mode, the controller 106 receives a user's release operation and starts a shooting operation, and executes a series of shooting operations such as exposure and development (S500). Thereafter, the liquid crystal display 105 displays a review image (S501). During the review display, the main controller 106 monitors the time from the start of the review image display (S502).

  The CCD image sensor 102 generates image data of a new frame even while the liquid crystal display 105 displays the review image. The main controller 106 monitors the movement of the subject based on the image data generated every frame until the review image display is canceled (S503). When it is determined that the subject has moved, the review display is canceled even if the time set in advance as the review image display time has not elapsed (504), and the liquid crystal display 105 displays the through image again.

On the other hand, if the main controller 106 does not determine that the subject has moved before the time set as the review image display time elapses, the main controller 106 cancels the review display after the time set as the review display time elapses. (S504). Thereafter, the liquid crystal display 105 is switched to display a through image again.
[Summary]
As described above, the digital camera 100 includes a CCD image sensor 102 that captures a subject image formed through an optical system and generates image data, a liquid crystal display 105, and a buffer that temporarily stores image data. When the imaging operation by the user is accepted, the image data generated by the CCD image sensor 102 is stored in the buffer, and the stored image data is displayed on the liquid crystal display 105 for a predetermined time. After the predetermined time has elapsed, the CCD image sensor 102 The main controller 106 that switches to the display of the image data generated in step 1 and a gyro sensor 107 are provided, and the main controller 106 adjusts the predetermined time according to the amount of shake detected by the gyro sensor 107. Thus, the digital camera 100 can adjust the predetermined time for displaying the image data on the liquid crystal display 105 after the CCD image sensor 102 generates the image data in accordance with the shake detected by the gyro sensor 107. In other words, the digital camera 100 can adjust the review display time according to the shake of the own device.

  In addition, the digital camera 100 may adjust the predetermined time according to the amount of motion blur of the subject detected by comparing the image data with the image data generated before or after the image data is generated. Good. Thereby, the digital camera 100 can adjust the review display time according to the movement of the subject.

  The present invention is not limited to application to a digital camera. That is, the present invention can be applied to an imaging apparatus such as a movie camera or a camera-equipped mobile phone.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Digital camera 101 Optical system 102 CCD image sensor 104 Image processing part 105 Liquid crystal monitor 106 Main controller 107 Gyro sensor 108 Memory card 109 Flash memory 110 Operation part 111 Power supply

Claims (3)

An imaging unit that captures a subject image formed through an optical system and generates image data;
Display means;
Storage means for temporarily storing image data;
Upon receiving an imaging operation by a user, the image data generated by the imaging unit is stored in the storage unit, and then the stored image data is displayed on the display unit for a predetermined time, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the imaging Control means for switching to display of image data generated by the means;
A shake detection means for detecting the movement of the subject ,
The control means adjusts the predetermined time according to the movement of the subject detected by the shake detection means;
Imaging device. The control means shortens the predetermined time according to the movement of the subject detected by the shake detection means.
The imaging device according to claim 1. The control means does not provide the predetermined time according to the movement of the subject detected by the shake detection means;
The imaging device according to claim 1.

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