JP5582743B2 - IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING DEVICE CONTROL METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a method for controlling the imaging apparatus, and more particularly to a technique suitable for use in setting imaging conditions related to imaging while checking a captured image.

  In recent years, the needs of digital camera users have diversified, and various photographing methods have been demanded. In order to meet this demand, functions have increased, but the number of operation members has decreased with the miniaturization of the digital camera body. For this reason, in order to realize a large number of functions with a small number of operation members, the number of operations is increased, making it difficult to easily call and set a desired shooting condition setting screen.

  An example is manual focus setting. In a compact digital camera, auto focus area settings such as macro area auto focus and normal area auto focus and manual focus are often selected as the same item. This is because the focus is set with a limited operation member.

  For this reason, it is difficult to perform manual focus adjustment immediately. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a method in which a predetermined operation member is used for switching between a normal area and a macro area when autofocus is set, and is used for a one-push macro AF button when manual focus is set.

JP 2009-25507 A

However, in Patent Document 1, although there is convenience as simple AF adjustment when performing close-up shooting of a flower or the like at the time of manual focus setting, there is a problem that the setting of manual focus and auto focus cannot be easily switched.
In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to easily switch a setting mode related to a method for setting a specific shooting condition and to quickly adjust a setting value of the shooting condition .

The imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes at least a first setting mode, a second setting mode, and a third setting mode for setting a specific operation member and a setting value of a specific shooting condition by different setting methods. A selection unit that selects an arbitrary setting mode in response to an operation of a selection operation member different from the specific operation member from among a plurality of three or more setting modes including the selection mode; When the specific operation member is operated when the setting mode is the first setting mode other than the second setting mode or the third setting mode, the current setting mode is set to the first setting mode. with change from the mode or the third setting mode to the second setting mode, the setting value of a particular imaging conditions, and controls to change according to the operation amount of the specific operating member, the current Setting mode, when the a specific operation member and the first setting mode or the third setting mode the second setting mode of which is changed from the through manipulation of the selection manipulation member is once operated According to this, it has a control means which controls to change to the setting mode before changing to the 2nd setting mode among the 1st setting mode or the 3rd setting mode. And

According to the present invention, the specific photographing condition can be changed by immediately changing from the first setting mode or the third setting mode to the second setting mode without operating the selection operation member that is normally used. In addition, after changing to the second setting mode, the original setting mode having a plurality of candidates can be returned to the original setting mode without specifying the user, and a user interface that can be easily adjusted is provided. Can do.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the digital camera as an example of an imaging device. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a digital camera. It is a flowchart explaining the whole operation | movement of a digital camera. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of the still image recording mode of a digital camera. It is a flowchart explaining the focus setting process of a digital camera. It is a flowchart explaining the ring function switching process of a digital camera. It is a figure explaining the example of a setting screen display of a focus setting process and a ring function switching process.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments described below, a case where the apparatus and method according to the present invention are applied to an imaging apparatus which is a digital camera capable of capturing still images and moving images will be described as an example.

[Digital camera configuration]
1A and 1B are views showing the appearance of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1A is a rear view of the digital camera 100 and FIG. 1B is a front perspective view. In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 28 denotes a display unit that displays images and various types of information. Reference numeral 72 denotes a power switch that switches between power on and power off. Reference numeral 61 denotes a shutter button. Reference numeral 60 denotes a mode switching switch for switching various modes in the digital camera 100. More specifically, it is possible to switch modes such as a still image recording mode, a moving image recording mode, and a reproduction mode. A connection cable 111 connects the digital camera 100 and an external device. A connector 112 connects the connection cable 111 and the digital camera 100.

Reference numeral 70 denotes an operation unit that accepts various operations from the user. The operation unit 70 includes various illustrated buttons and operation members such as a touch panel provided on the screen of the display unit 28. Specific examples of the various buttons on the operation unit 70 include an erase button, a menu button, a SET button, a display button, a zoom operation unit, and four-direction buttons arranged on a cross (up button, down button, right button, left button). Button). The controller wheel 73 is a rotation operation member and is included in the operation unit 70. Reference numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. A recording medium slot 201 stores the recording medium 200. The recording medium 200 stored in the recording medium slot 201 can communicate with the digital camera 100. Reference numeral 202 denotes a lid of the recording medium slot 201.
FIG. 1B is a front perspective view of the digital camera 100. The controller ring 74 is a rotation operation member provided as a specific operation member around the lens barrel, and is included in the operation unit 70.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 103 denotes a photographing lens including a focus lens, 101 denotes a shutter having a diaphragm function, and 22 denotes an imaging unit including a CCD, a CMOS element, or the like that converts an optical image into an electrical signal. Reference numeral 23 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The A / D converter 23 is used to convert an analog signal output from the imaging unit 22 into a digital signal. A barrier 102 covers the imaging unit including the imaging lens 103 of the digital camera 100 to prevent the imaging system including the imaging lens 103, the shutter 101, and the imaging unit 22 from becoming dirty or damaged.

  An image processing unit 24 performs resize processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 23 or the data from the memory control unit 15. The image processing unit 24 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control unit 50 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the obtained calculation result. Thereby, AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing of the TTL (through-the-lens) method are performed. The image processing unit 24 further performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained calculation result.

  Output data from the A / D converter 23 is directly written into the memory 32 via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15 or via the memory control unit 15. The memory 32 stores image data obtained by the imaging unit 22 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 23 and image data to be displayed on the display unit 28. The memory 32 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images, a moving image and sound for a predetermined time.

  The memory 32 also serves as an image display memory (video memory). A D / A converter 13 converts image display data stored in the memory 32 into an analog signal and supplies the analog signal to the display unit 28. Thus, the display image data written in the memory 32 is displayed on the display unit 28 via the D / A converter 13. The display unit 28 performs display according to the analog signal from the D / A converter 13 on a display such as an LCD.

  The nonvolatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory, and for example, an EEPROM or the like is used. The nonvolatile memory 56 stores constants, programs, and the like for operating the system control unit 50. Here, the program is a program for executing various flowcharts described later in the present embodiment.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control unit that controls the entire digital camera 100. By executing the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 described above, each process of the present embodiment to be described later is realized. A system memory 52 is a RAM. In the system memory 52, constants and variables for operation of the system control unit 50, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 56, and the like are expanded.

The mode switch 60, the first shutter switch 62, the second shutter switch 64, and the operation unit 70 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 50.
The mode switch 60 switches the operation mode of the system control unit 50 to any one of a still image recording mode, a moving image recording mode, a reproduction mode, and the like. The first shutter switch 62 is turned on when the shutter button 61 provided in the digital camera 100 is being operated, so-called half-press (shooting preparation instruction), and generates a first shutter switch signal SW1. In response to the first shutter switch signal SW1, operations such as AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing are started.

  The second shutter switch 64 is turned ON when the operation of the shutter button 61 is completed, that is, when it is fully pressed (shooting instruction), and generates a second shutter switch signal SW2. In response to the second shutter switch signal SW2, the system control unit 50 starts a series of shooting processing operations from reading a signal from the imaging unit 22 to writing image data on the recording medium 200.

  Each operation member of the operation unit 70 is appropriately assigned a function for each scene by selecting and operating various function icons displayed on the display unit 28, and functions as various function buttons. Examples of the function buttons include an end button, a return button, an image advance button, a jump button, a narrowing button, and an attribute change button. For example, when a menu button is pressed, various setting menu screens are displayed on the display unit 28. The user can make various settings intuitively using the menu screen displayed on the display unit 28, the four-way button, and the SET button.

  When the AF / MF switching button is pressed, an AF area setting / MF setting switching menu screen is displayed on the display unit 28. The AF / MF switching button is an operation button for switching the focus setting mode, and is assigned to the left button included in the operation unit 70 in this embodiment.

There are the following three focus setting modes, and any of these three can be set.
The first is the macro mode. The macro mode is a mode selected when autofocusing to a short distance (macro area). The focus position that can be set by autofocus is limited to a short distance (macro area). This is one of the auto focus modes (AF modes).
The second is the normal mode. The normal mode is a mode selected when shooting at a normal subject distance (normal area) such as snap shooting. The focus position that can be set by autofocus is limited to a position (normal area) excluding a short distance. This is one of the auto focus modes (AF modes).
The third is a manual focus mode (MF mode). The manual focus mode (MF mode) is a mode in which the focus position can be adjusted manually. It is not limited to these three, but depending on the performance of the focus lens, a distant view mode (in AF mode, the focus position that can be set by autofocus is limited to a long distance), etc. There may be. The power switch 72 switches between power on and power off.

  The controller wheel 73 is a rotatable operation member included in the operation unit 70, and is used when a selection item is instructed together with a direction button. When the controller wheel 73 is rotated, an electrical pulse signal is generated according to the operation amount, and the system control unit 50 controls each unit of the digital camera 100 based on the pulse signal. From this pulse signal, it is possible to determine the angle at which the controller wheel 73 is rotated, how many rotations, and the like. The controller wheel 73 may be any operation member that can detect a rotation operation. For example, it may be a dial operation member that generates a pulse signal by rotating the controller wheel 73 itself according to the rotation operation of the user. Further, an operation member made of a touch sensor may detect the rotation operation of the user's finger on the controller wheel 73 without rotating the controller wheel 73 itself (so-called touch wheel).

  The controller ring 74 is a rotation operation member included in the operation unit 70, and is an operation member that can be operated around the lens barrel and rotated around the optical axis. The controller ring 74 is not a member that directly mechanically operates the lens barrel, but is an operation member that generates an electrical signal. For example, when the controller ring 74 is operated, an electrical pulse signal corresponding to the rotation amount (operation amount) is generated.

  The system control unit 50 controls each unit of the digital camera 100 based on the pulse signal. Note that when the function switching button of the controller ring 74 included in the operation unit 70 is pressed, a menu screen on which the function assigned to the controller ring 74 can be changed is displayed on the display unit 28. The controller ring 74 and the controller wheel 73 are used for selecting normal mode items and changing values. In the manual focus mode, it is an operation member for giving an instruction to adjust the focus position. In this embodiment, the function switching button of the controller ring 74 is assigned to the vicinity of the four-direction button and the periphery of the lens barrel included in the operation unit 70.

  A power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is attached, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. Further, the power control unit 80 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control unit 50, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 200 for a necessary period.

  A power supply unit 30 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like. Reference numeral 18 denotes an interface with a recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like.

[Overall operation of digital camera]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation of the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment. Each process in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is realized by the system control unit 50 expanding and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 or the like in the system memory 52.

  When the power switch 72 is operated and the power supply unit 30 is turned on, in step S301, flags, control variables, and the like are initialized. Subsequently, in step S302, management processing relating to the file recorded on the recording medium 200 is started.

  Next, in steps S303, S305, and S307, the setting position of the mode switch 60 is determined. As a result of this determination, if the still image recording mode is set, the process proceeds from step S303 to step S304, and still image recording mode processing is executed. Details of the still image recording mode processing in step S304 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  If the mode switch 60 is set to the moving image recording mode, the process proceeds to step S306 through steps S303 and S305, and the moving image recording mode process is executed. If the mode selector switch 60 is set to the playback mode, the process proceeds to step S308 through steps S303, S305, and S307, and the playback mode process is executed.

  If another mode is set, the process proceeds to step S309 through steps S303, S305, and S307, and the process corresponding to the selected mode is executed.

  After executing the process corresponding to the mode set by the mode switch 60 among steps S304, S306, S308, and S309, the process proceeds to step S310. In step S310, the setting position of the power switch 72 is determined. If the power switch 72 is set to power on, the process returns to step S303. On the other hand, if the power switch 72 is set to power off, the process proceeds from step S310 to step S311 and the system control unit 50 performs an end process.

  The termination process includes, for example, the following process. That is, the display on the display unit 28 is changed to the end state, and the lens barrier 102 is closed to protect the imaging unit. In addition, parameters, setting values, and setting modes including flags and control variables are recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56, and the power to parts where power supply is unnecessary is cut off. When the termination process of step S311 is completed, this process is terminated, and the power is turned off.

[Still image recording mode processing]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing still image recording mode processing, and details of the processing in step S304 of FIG. 3 described above.
Each process in the still image recording mode process is realized by the system control unit 50 expanding and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 or the like in the system memory 52. Note that the still image recording mode process shown in FIG. 4 is terminated by an interrupt process or the like when the mode switch 60 switches to another mode or when the power switch 72 is set to OFF. And

  When the still image recording mode process is started, the shooting mode is determined in step S401. The shooting mode is determined by acquiring the shooting mode at the end of the previous still image recording mode from the nonvolatile memory 56 and storing it in the system memory 52. The shooting mode here is a shooting mode for shooting a still image. The digital camera 100 of this embodiment has the following shooting modes.

The first setting mode is an auto mode (automatic setting mode). In the auto mode, various parameters of the camera are automatically determined by the system control unit 50 according to a program incorporated in the digital camera 100 based on the measured exposure value.
The second setting mode is a manual mode (manual setting mode). The manual mode is a mode in which the user can freely change various parameters of the camera.
The third is a scene mode. In the scene mode, a combination of a shutter speed and an aperture value, a flash emission state, sensitivity setting, and the like suitable for a shooting scene is automatically set.

  The scene mode includes the following modes. That is, portrait mode, night view mode, landscape mode, night & snap mode, kids & pet mode, fresh green & autumnal leaves mode, party mode, snow mode, beach mode, fireworks mode, aquarium mode, underwater mode and the like.

  When the shooting mode is determined in step S401, in subsequent step S402, through display for displaying image data from the imaging unit 22 is performed (image display control). In the through display, an image picked up by the image pickup unit 22 is displayed on the display unit 28 as a substantially real-time moving image without being recorded on the recording medium 200. Timing can be measured.

  Next, in step S403, whether the remaining capacity of the power supply unit 30 configured by a battery or the like using the power supply control unit 80, the presence / absence of the recording medium 200, or the remaining capacity is a problem in the operation of the digital camera 100 is determined. judge. If there is a problem as a result of the determination, the process proceeds to step S404, a predetermined warning display is performed using an image or sound using the display unit 28, and the process returns to step S401. If there is no problem in the state of the power supply unit 30 or the recording medium 200 as a result of the determination in step S403, the process proceeds to step S405.

  In step S405, it is determined whether or not a user operation has been performed on any of the AF / MF switching button, the controller ring 74, and the controller wheel 73. As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the AF / MF switching button, the controller ring 74, and the controller wheel 73 have been operated, the process proceeds to step S406, and focus setting processing is performed. The focus setting process will be described later with reference to FIG. When the focus setting process ends, the process returns to step S405.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S405, if it is determined that any of the AF / MF switching button, the controller ring 74, and the controller wheel 73 has not been operated, the process proceeds to step S407. In step S407, it is determined whether or not there is an operation for setting the function of the controller ring 74 from the user (hereinafter, ring function switching process).

  As a result of this determination, if it is determined that there has been a ring function switching operation, the process proceeds to step S408, and ring function switching processing is performed according to the operation. This shooting setting process will be described later with reference to FIG. When the ring function switching process is performed, the process returns to step S405. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S407 is that there is no ring function switching processing, processing proceeds to step S409.

  In step S409, face detection is performed to detect whether a human face exists in the through-displayed image signal. When a human face is detected in the face detection process, the position coordinates, size (width, height), detected number, reliability coefficient, etc. of the detected face in the image signal are stored in the system memory 52 as face information. When a face is not detected in the face detection process, 0 is set in areas such as position coordinates, size (width, height), detected number, reliability coefficient, etc. in the system memory 52.

  Subsequently, in step S410, it is determined whether or not the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON (photographing preparation instruction reception). If the result of this determination is that the first shutter switch signal SW1 is OFF, processing returns to step S405. On the other hand, if the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON, the process proceeds to step S430.

  In step S430, the current focus setting mode is acquired from the system memory 52. Next, it progresses to step S431 and it is determined whether the focus setting mode acquired by step S430 is MF mode. As a result of the determination, if the mode is MF mode, the process proceeds to step S432, and if not, the process proceeds to step S411.

  In step S432, a shooting preparation operation in the MF mode is performed. Photometric processing is performed to determine the aperture value and shutter speed (exposure determination processing). In the photometric process, a flash is set if necessary. Note that since step S432 is a shooting preparation operation in the MF mode, the distance measurement process is not performed, and the focus lens included in the shooting lens 103 is not driven. When the shooting preparation operation in the MF mode is performed, the process proceeds to step S412.

  On the other hand, in step S411, a shooting preparation operation in the AF mode is performed. A distance measurement process is performed to focus the photographing lens 103 on the subject (autofocus process), and a photometry process is performed to determine an aperture value and a shutter speed (exposure determination process). In the photometric process, a flash is set if necessary. At this time, if a face is detected in step S409, it is possible to perform face AF for distance measurement in the detected face range.

  Next, in steps S412, S413, the ON / OFF states of the first shutter switch signal SW1 and the second shutter switch signal SW2 are determined. As a result of the determination, if the second shutter switch signal SW2 is turned on while the first shutter switch signal SW1 is turned on, the process proceeds from step S412 to step S414.

  When the first shutter switch signal SW1 is turned off (when the second shutter switch signal SW2 is not turned on and the first shutter switch signal SW1 is also released), the process returns from step S413 to step S405. Further, while the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON and the second shutter switch signal SW2 is OFF, the processes of steps S412 and S413 are repeated.

  In step S414, the display state of the display unit 28 is set from the through display to the fixed color display state (for example, black display). In step S415, photographing processing including exposure processing and development processing is executed. In the exposure process, the image data obtained through the imaging unit 22 and the A / D converter 23 is transmitted via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15 or from the A / D converter 23 to the memory control unit 15. The data is directly written into the memory 32 via In the development process, the system control unit 50 uses the memory control unit 15 and, if necessary, the image processing unit 24 to read the image data written in the memory 32 and perform various processes.

  Next, in step S416, a quick review display of the image data obtained by the photographing process is performed on the display unit 28. The quick review display is a process for displaying the image data on the display unit 28 for a predetermined time (review time) before recording on the recording medium after photographing the subject for confirmation of the photographed image.

In step S417, a recording process for writing the image data obtained by the photographing process to the recording medium 200 as an image file is executed.
In step S418, the ON / OFF state of the second shutter switch signal SW2 is determined. If the second shutter switch signal SW2 is ON, the determination in step S418 is repeated, and the process waits for the second shutter switch signal SW2 to be OFF. During this time, the quick review display is continued. That is, when the recording process in step S417 is completed, the quick review display on the display unit 28 is continued until the second shutter switch signal SW2 is released.

  With this configuration, the user can carefully check the captured image data using the quick review display by continuing to fully press the shutter button 61. If it is determined in step S418 that the second shutter switch signal SW2 is OFF, that is, if the user releases the shutter button 61 to release the fully pressed state, the process proceeds to step S419.

In step S419, it is determined whether or not a predetermined review time for quick review display has elapsed. If the review time has not elapsed, the process waits for the review time to elapse, and proceeds to step S420 when the review time has elapsed.
In step S420, the display state of the display unit 28 is returned from the quick review display to the through display state. With this processing, after the captured image data is confirmed by the quick review display, the display state of the display unit 28 is automatically switched to a through display state in which the image data from the imaging unit 22 is sequentially displayed for the next shooting. Become.

  In step S421, it is determined whether the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON / OFF. If the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON, the process returns to step S412. If it is OFF, the process returns to step S405.

  That is, when the half-pressed state of the shutter button 61 continues (the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON), it prepares for the next shooting (step S412). On the other hand, if the shutter button 61 has been released (the first shutter switch signal SW1 is OFF), the series of shooting operations are terminated and the camera returns to the shooting standby state (step S405). Shooting is performed as described above.

  In step S432, the distance measurement process is not performed and the focus lens included in the photographing lens 103 is not driven. However, the auto focus process is performed only in a very narrow range near the current focus lens position. Also good. This is called safety AF. The range of focus positions (focus lens positions) that can be obtained by autofocus processing at this time are the range of focus positions (macro area) that can be obtained in macro mode of AF mode and the range of focus positions that can be obtained in normal mode (normally Area).

  By doing so, it is possible for the user to roughly determine the subject to be focused by manual focus, and to accurately focus the subject by autofocus processing. Whether the safety AF is turned ON or OFF can be set in advance from a menu screen, for example. When safety AF is ON, autofocus processing is performed only in a very narrow range near the current focus lens position. When safety AF is OFF, autofocus processing is not performed at all.

[About focus setting processing]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the focus setting process, and details the process performed in step S406 of FIG. 4 described above. Each process in the focus setting process is realized by the system control unit 50 expanding and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 or the like in the system memory 52.

  When the focus setting process is started, first, in step S501, it is determined whether or not the controller ring 74 has been operated. This is a determination as to whether or not the result of the determination in step S405 was true due to the operation of the controller ring 74. If the controller ring 74 is operated as a result of this determination, the process proceeds to step S502. In step S502, the current setting of the controller ring 74 is acquired in the system memory 52, and it is determined whether or not the focus adjustment is set.

  If the result of determination in step S502 is not focus adjustment setting, the focus setting process is exited and the process returns to the process of step S405 in FIG. On the other hand, in the case of the focus adjustment setting, the process proceeds to step S503. In step S503, the current focus setting mode recorded in the system memory 52 is acquired. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S504.

  In step S504, it is determined whether the setting acquired in step S503 is the MF mode. As a result of this determination, if the mode is MF mode, the process proceeds to step S510, and if not, the process proceeds to step S505. In step S 505, the operation flag “true” indicating that the manual focus operation has been performed with the controller ring 74 is stored in the system memory 52. In step S506, recording control is performed so that the focus setting mode acquired in step S503 is separately stored in the system memory 52. In this case, the AF mode (macro mode or normal mode) is stored in the system memory 52.

Next, in step S507, the display shown in FIG.
FIG. 7A will be described. The dialog 701 indicates a state in which guidance is displayed to cancel the MF mode by pressing the left button and return to the focus setting mode stored in step S506, and explains the operation procedure to the user. The icon 702 displays that the focus can be adjusted with the controller ring 74. An icon 703 indicates that exposure correction is possible with the controller wheel 73. The dialog 704 displays the focus position adjustment status (to which position the focus position has moved). By performing such display, it can be displayed to the user that the manual focus adjustment method or a predetermined button can be easily released.

In step S508, the focus setting mode is stored in the system memory 52 as the MF mode.
Next, in step S510, the movement amount of the focus position is calculated from the rotation amount of the controller ring 74.
Next, in step S511, the focus position is moved by the amount of movement of the focus position calculated in step S510. That is, the focus lens is controlled to be driven by the amount of movement of the focus position calculated in step S510.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S501 that the controller ring 74 is not operated, the process proceeds to step S512 to determine whether or not the AF / MF switching button has been operated. This is a determination as to whether or not the result of the determination in step S405 is true is due to the operation of the AF / MF switching button. If the result of this determination is that the AF / MF switching button has been operated, processing proceeds to step S513. If the AF / MF switching button has not been operated, it is indicated that the result of the determination in step S405 is true due to the operation of the controller wheel 73, and the process proceeds to step S524.

  In step S513, the operation flag of the controller ring 74 stored in the system memory 52 in step S505 is read to determine authenticity. If the operation flag of the controller ring 74 is true as a result of this determination, the flag is cleared and stored in the system memory 52 in step S522. Subsequently, in step S523, the focus setting mode stored in step S506 is read and stored in the system memory 52, and a transition is made to the standby screen in FIG.

  By the processing described so far, in the AF mode, the focus setting mode can be easily changed to the MF mode by one operation of the controller ring 74, and the focus position can be manually adjusted. Further, it is possible to return to the original AF mode simply by pressing the AF / MF button thereafter.

  As a specific example, if you want to fine-tune the focus manually while shooting a flower in the AF mode macro mode, you can turn the controller ring 74 to perform a manual focus operation. . At that time, since the focus setting mode is changed to the MF mode, even if the first shutter switch signal SW1 is pressed as it is, the autofocus process is not performed, and the photographing can be performed at the focus setting position adjusted by the manual focus. it can. Until the AF / MF button is pressed, shooting can be performed any number of times in the MF mode.

  Furthermore, although manual focus was performed by turning the controller ring 74, if it is necessary to revisit and return to the original macro mode, it is possible to return to the original macro mode only by pressing the AF / MF button once. Further, in the above-described example, it is assumed that the focus position is not intended to be adjusted although autofocus processing is performed by pressing the first shutter switch signal SW1 once in the macro mode of AF mode, for example. In this case, if the controller ring 74 is turned at that time, the focus position can be finely adjusted manually starting from the focus position obtained as a result of performing the autofocus process in the macro mode, which is particularly convenient.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 5, when the controller ring 74 operation flag is false as a result of the determination in step S513, the process proceeds to step S514. In step S514, the current focus setting mode recorded in the system memory 52 is acquired. In step S516, selection candidates for the focus setting mode are displayed. A display example of a specific focus setting mode selection candidate is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, a plurality of display items (hereinafter referred to as icons) representing focus setting modes that can be set are displayed (listed display) in the dialog 705. By selecting an arbitrary icon from the icons listed in the dialog 705, the focus setting mode indicated by the icon can be set. The icon 708 is an icon representing the macro mode. Icon 709 is an icon representing the normal mode. Icon 710 is an icon representing the MF mode.

  Next, in step S517, it is determined whether the MF mode has been selected. When the MF mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S518. When the controller ring 74 is set to focus adjustment, the display shown in FIG. 7A is performed. When the controller ring 74 is set other than the focus adjustment, the display shown in FIG.

  A display example of FIG. 7D will be described. The icon 711 displays that the focus can be adjusted with the controller wheel 73. The dialog 712 is the same as the dialog 704. The icon 713 indicates that the ISO sensitivity can be selected with the controller ring 74.

In step S519, the focus setting mode is stored in the system memory 52 as the MF mode.
Next, in step S520, it is determined whether or not the controller wheel 73 has been operated. If the controller wheel 73 is not operated as a result of this determination, the process exits and returns to the process of step S405 in FIG. When the controller wheel 73 is operated, the process proceeds to step S510, and the amount of movement of the focus position is calculated from the amount of rotation of the controller wheel 73. In step S511, the focus lens is driven by the amount of movement of the focus position calculated in step S510.

  On the other hand, in step S524, the current focus setting mode recorded in the system memory 52 is acquired. Subsequently, in step S525, it is determined whether or not the setting acquired in step S524 is the MF mode. If the result of this determination is that it is in MF mode, processing proceeds to step S510, otherwise processing is terminated and processing returns to step S405 in FIG. In step S510, the movement amount of the focus position is calculated according to the operation of the controller wheel 73 that is determined to be true in step S405. In step S511, the focus lens is driven by the amount of movement of the focus position calculated in step S510.

  The selection of the MF mode described in step S517 is conventional MF mode selection means. In this way, a method of performing manual focus directly by operating the controller ring 74 (steps S503 to S511). Alternatively, both methods (steps S518 to S520 → S510 → S511) of performing manual focus after setting the focus setting mode to the MF mode as in the past can be used depending on the user's photographing application.

  For example, in a scene where it is desired to frequently change the ISO sensitivity, if the ISO sensitivity is assigned to the controller ring 74, the operation of the controller ring 74 does not shift to the MF mode, and the ISO sensitivity can be changed. When the focus setting mode is to be set to the MF mode, manual focus is performed by the controller wheel 73 after the focus setting mode is set to the MF mode as in steps S518 to S520 → S510 → S511.

  The manual focus operation may be performed by both the controller ring 74 and the controller wheel 73. However, the movement amount of the focus position may be different between the operation using the controller ring 74 and the operation using the controller wheel 73. By changing the amount of movement according to the shape of the rotary operation member, it is possible to provide the user with an optimal operational feeling.

  The first shooting condition setting means for setting the shooting conditions in S505 described above, specifically, the first setting storage means for storing the focus setting in the system memory 52 as the first setting storage is configured. Further, the above-described S501, S502, and S512 constitute a focus setting value changing unit that changes the focus setting value set by the first photographing condition setting unit. In S506, the second shooting condition setting means for storing the setting value in the first setting storage means (system memory 52), specifically, the setting before the focus setting is changed (current focus setting) Is stored as second setting storage. In addition, the first setting value changing unit that changes the focus setting value according to the operation of the rotating operation unit and the fact that the focus setting value changing unit is executed in S508 described above as the third setting memory is the system memory 52. The third setting storage means for storing the information is configured.

[About ring function switching processing]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the ring function switching process, and details the process of step S408 in FIG. 4 described above. Each process in the ring function switching process is realized by the system control unit 50 expanding and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 or the like in the system memory 52.

When the ring function switching process is started, first, the current setting of the controller ring 74 is acquired in the system memory 52 in step S601.
Next, in step S602, a dialog display for setting the controller ring 74 is displayed on the display unit 28 based on the setting content of the controller ring 74 acquired in step S601 (item display control).

  FIG. 7E shows a display example of a dialog display for setting the controller ring 74 at this time. In the dialog 714, a plurality of display items (hereinafter referred to as icons) representing the types of controller rings 74 that can be set are displayed (list display). By selecting an arbitrary icon from the icons listed in the dialog 714, the type of the controller ring 74 function represented by the icon can be set. There are the following types of controller ring 74 functions.

Standard: Aperture value can be changed in M mode and Av mode, shutter speed can be changed in Tv mode, and ISO sensitivity can be changed in P mode. An icon 717 is an icon representing a standard. At the time of standard setting, the difference in setting depending on the shooting mode will be described on the guidance display 716. For example, it will be described that ISO sensitivity can be set in the P mode.
ISO sensitivity: The ISO sensitivity can be changed with the controller ring 74. An icon 718 is an icon representing ISO sensitivity.

Exposure compensation: The shutter speed can be changed in the M mode, and exposure compensation is possible in the Av mode, Tv mode, and P mode. An icon 719 is an icon representing exposure correction.
Focus adjustment: The controller ring 74 allows manual focus position adjustment. An icon 720 is an icon representing focus adjustment.
WB correction: The controller ring 74 can change the WB correction. An icon 721 is an icon representing WB correction.
Step zoom: The controller ring 74 allows stepwise zoom changes. An icon 722 is an icon representing step zoom.

  FIG. 7E shows an example in which focus adjustment is set. Therefore, among the icons displayed in the dialog 714, an icon 720 indicating focus adjustment is highlighted, indicating that the cursor is hit and the icon 720 is selected. This cursor can be moved by operating the upper button or the lower button, the ring function switching button, or the controller wheel 73 included in the operation unit 70, and an arbitrary icon can be selected by the user.

  The dialog 715 is a guidance display for explaining what kind of controller ring 74 the icon selected in the dialog 714 represents. The display of this dialog 715 indicates the type of the controller ring 74 function currently set in an easy-to-understand manner for the photographer.

  When the display as shown in FIG. 7E is performed in step S602 in FIG. 6, a timer for setting the controller ring 74 is started in the subsequent step S603. This is a timer for automatically ending the setting process of the controller ring 74 if there is no specific operation for a predetermined time. Accordingly, the setting related to the controller ring 74 can be confirmed and the setting display of the controller ring 74 can be terminated and returned to the original display without performing any special operation, so that the operation procedure can be reduced. .

  In step S604, it is determined in the dialog 714 whether or not there has been an operation for selecting the previous icon of the currently selected icon (whether there has been an operation for moving the cursor to the previous icon) (selection). Reception). This operation is performed by any one of pressing the upper button included in the operation unit 70, pressing the left button, and rotating the controller wheel 73 counterclockwise.

  Next, when it is determined in step S604 that an operation for selecting the previous icon has been performed, the process proceeds to step S610, and the timer for setting the controller ring 74 started in step S603 is canceled (stopped and timed is cleared). ). In step S611, the icon corresponding to the operation is selected on the dialog 714, and the setting is updated to the type of the controller ring 74 represented by the selected icon.

  In the setting update, the setting of the digital camera 100 is actually set to the type of the controller ring 74 represented by the selected icon, and the updated setting is stored in the system memory 52. In addition, the display of the dialogs 714 and 715 is updated according to the setting. When the setting is updated, the process returns to step S603. In step S603, the controller ring 74 setting timer is started again. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S604 that there is no operation for selecting the previous icon, the process proceeds to step S605.

  In step S605, it is determined in the dialog 714 whether or not there has been an operation of selecting the primary icon of the currently selected icon (whether there has been an operation of moving the cursor to the primary icon) (selection). Reception). This operation is performed by any one of pressing the down button, pressing the right button, the ring function switching button, and the operation of turning the controller wheel 73 clockwise included in the operation unit 70. As a result of the determination in step S605, if it is determined that there is an operation for selecting the next icon, the process proceeds to step S610 and step S611. If it is determined that there is no operation, the process proceeds to step S606.

  In step S606, it is determined whether or not the first shutter switch signal SW1 has been turned on, that is, whether or not the shutter button 61 has been half-pressed (acquisition of a shooting preparation instruction). If the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON, the process proceeds to step S609, and if it is OFF, the process proceeds to step S607. Note that if the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON in step S606, the display for setting the controller ring 74 is finished in step S609, and then the true determination is made in step S410 in FIG. 4, and the shooting preparation operation in step S411 is performed. Is done.

  In step S607, it is determined whether or not the SET button included in the operation unit 70 has been pressed (first end acceptance). As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the SET button has been pressed (there is a first end operation), the process proceeds to step S609, and if it is determined that the SET button has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S608.

  In step S608, it is determined whether the timer for setting the controller ring 74 started in step S603 has been completed. That is, this determination is a determination as to whether or not there has been a specific operation related to the setting of the controller ring 74 even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the timer was started in step S603. If the timer is not completed, the process returns to step S604 to repeat the process. If it is determined that the timer has been completed, the process proceeds to step S609.

  In step S609, the display for setting the controller ring 74 is terminated. Specifically, the dialogs 714 and 715 are deleted, and the display state before entering the controller ring 74 setting process (FIG. 7C) is restored. However, at this time, when the type of the controller ring 74 that has been set is changed compared to before the setting process for the controller ring 74, the current shooting setting displayed superimposed on the through display is shown. Icons etc. are updated. When the process of step S609 is completed, the controller ring 74 setting process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even in the AF mode, it is possible to easily change to the MF mode and adjust the focus position by a single operation of a predetermined operation member. Further, it is possible to return to the original AF mode by a predetermined button operation. In addition, according to the present embodiment, the normal shooting uses the AF mode, and the focus position is adjusted manually according to the scene, and then the user's needs for the original AF mode can be met.

  In the present embodiment, the setting to the MF mode has been described as the shooting condition setting. However, the present invention can also be applied to other shooting condition settings. For example, the present invention can be applied to switching between auto white balance setting and manual white balance setting. Further, when a predetermined operation member operation is performed, it is possible to immediately change to manual white balance, change the Kelvin setting according to the control amount of the operation, and perform WB correction. By returning to the auto white balance by a predetermined button operation, it is possible to flexibly cope with a scene change.

  Also, with regard to ISO sensitivity, it is possible to change the ISO sensitivity according to the control amount of operation and return to AUTO control by a predetermined button operation. Similarly, the operation method of the present invention is effective in setting for changing the setting method, fine adjustment, and changing the value. Also, the display mode has been described with the display method of superimposing the display related to the setting (setting screen) on the through display. However, the display may be a display during the through display, and the through display is reduced and displayed. The present invention can also be applied to a method of separately displaying the through display. The present invention is also applicable to a method of displaying a setting screen on a first display device and displaying a through display on a second display device.

  Although the present invention has been described above using a digital camera, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to a personal computer that is connected to a digital camera and remotely controls the digital camera. An image captured by the digital camera is transmitted to the display of the personal computer at any time, and a real-time image equivalent to the through display, that is, a so-called live view display is possible. The above-described focus setting display can be performed superimposed on the live view display, and the above-described various operations can be performed based on the operation on the personal computer to set the connected digital camera. In addition, the present invention can be applied to any device that can capture an image, such as a mobile phone, a mobile terminal, or an electronic device having an imaging unit.

(Other examples)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (computer program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media. Then, the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program.

22 imaging unit, 28 display unit, 32 memory, 50 system control unit, 52 system memory, 70 operation unit, 100 digital camera

Claims (13)

A specific operating member;
Among the plurality of three or more setting modes including at least the first setting mode, the second setting mode, and the third setting mode for setting the setting value of the specific photographing condition by different setting methods, respectively. A selection means for selecting an arbitrary setting mode in response to an operation of a selection operation member different from the specific operation member;
If the specific operation member is operated when the setting mode selected by the selection unit is the first setting mode or the third setting mode other than the second setting mode, the current setting is set. The mode is changed from the first setting mode or the third setting mode to the second setting mode, and the setting value of the specific photographing condition is changed according to the operation amount of the specific operating member. To control and
When the current setting mode is the second setting mode changed from the first setting mode or the third setting mode by the operation of the specific operation member, the selection operation member is operated once. And a control means for controlling to change to the setting mode before changing to the second setting mode out of the first setting mode or the third setting mode. An imaging apparatus characterized by the above. When the current setting mode is not the second setting mode changed from the setting mode other than the second setting mode by the operation of the specific operation member, the selection unit performs the selection operation. Display items corresponding to each of the three or more setting modes according to the operation on the member are displayed in a list, and set to the setting mode corresponding to the display item selected by the user from the displayed display items. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: When the specific operation member is operated when the current setting mode is the first setting mode or the third setting mode, information indicating the setting mode before the operation is performed is recorded in the storage medium. Recording control means for controlling
The control means, when the current setting mode is the second setting mode changed from the first setting mode or the third setting mode by operating the specific operation member, When the operation member is operated once, the second setting mode is changed from the first setting mode and the third setting mode based on the information recorded on the storage medium. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is controlled so as to change to a setting mode before the recording. By operating the selection operation member in response to the change from the first setting mode or the third setting mode to the second setting mode by the operation of the specific operation member, 4. A display control means for controlling the display means to display guidance indicating that it is possible to change to the setting mode before the change to the setting mode of 2. The imaging device according to any one of the above. The first setting mode and the third setting mode are automatic setting modes in which the control means sets a setting value of the specific shooting condition, and the second setting mode is a setting of the specific shooting condition. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is a manual setting mode in which a user manually sets a value. A receiving means for receiving a shooting preparation instruction;
When the reception setting instruction is received by the reception unit, if the current setting mode is the first setting mode or the third setting mode , the setting value of the specific shooting condition is automatically set. 6. The photographing preparation unit according to claim 5, further comprising photographing preparation means for controlling the setting value of the specific photographing condition not to be changed when the current setting mode is the second setting mode. Imaging device. A receiving means for receiving a shooting preparation instruction;
When the reception setting instruction is received by the reception unit, if the current setting mode is the first setting mode or the third setting mode , the setting value of the specific shooting condition is automatically set. Shooting preparation means for controlling to set the setting value of the specific shooting condition based on the setting value manually set by the user when the current setting mode is the second setting mode; The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: The specific shooting condition is a shooting condition related to focus, the first setting mode and the third setting mode are setting modes for performing auto focus, and the second setting mode is a setting mode for performing manual focus. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup apparatus is an image pickup apparatus.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific shooting condition is at least one of a shooting condition related to white balance and a shooting condition related to ISO sensitivity.   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the specific operation member is an operation member that can be rotated around a lens barrel. A plurality of three or more settings including at least a first setting mode, a second setting mode, and a third setting mode for setting specific operation members and setting values of specific imaging conditions by different setting methods. A selection step of selecting an arbitrary setting mode in response to an operation of a selection operation member different from the specific operation member from among the modes;
If the specific operation member is operated when the setting mode selected in the selection step is the first setting mode or the third setting mode other than the second setting mode, the current setting is set. The mode is changed from the first setting mode or the third setting mode to the second setting mode, and the setting value of the specific photographing condition is changed according to the operation amount of the specific operating member. To control and
When the current setting mode is the second setting mode changed from the first setting mode or the third setting mode by the operation of the specific operation member, the selection operation member is operated once. And a control step of controlling to change to the setting mode before the change to the second setting mode in the first setting mode or the third setting mode. A method for controlling an image pickup apparatus.   A program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Images